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ILLINOIS 


HISTORICAL  SURi/EV 


L161— O-1096 


EARLY  LEE  COUNTY 

Being  Some  Chapters  in  the  History 

of  the  Early  Days  in  Lee  County, 

Illinois 


BY 

WILLIAM   D.  BARGE 


CHICAGO 
1913 


PREFACE 


This  is  not  an  effort  to  write  a  history  of  any  man  or 
^    any  locality.    The  sole  purpose  of  the  work  is  the  collec- 
jKtion  and  preservation  of  the  scarce  and  almost  inaccessi- 
ble evidence  of  some  of  the  men  and  events  prominent  in 
--.  the  early  days  of  Lee  County.    It  was  not  prepared  to 
sustain  any  theory  or  tradition,  but  every  effort  within 
my  power  has  been  made  to  learn  all  the  facts  concerning 
these  men  and  events  and  state  them  correctly. 

Some  old  traditions  have  been  shattered,  but  they  were 
^P>  not  sustained  by  the  facts,  and  many  of  them  had  no  foun- 
dation except  the  loose  talk  of  persons  who  were  ignorant 
of  the  matters  of  which  they  spoke.  Some  of  my  old 
beliefs,  held  and  cherished  since  early  childhood,  have 
been  dispelled,  but  they  were  founded  upon  misinforma- 
tion. 

Reference  is  made  to  some  public  record,  report  or 
document  whenever  one  could  be  found.  When  such  evi- 
dence could  not  be  had,  my  resort  was  to  newspapers,  pri- 
vate letters  or  records  or  books  written  or  published 
about  that  time,  in  the  belief  that  such  contemporaneous 
statements  are  more  likely  to  be  free  from  error  than 
those  made  years  afterwards.  In  some  instances  the 
^private  records  and  the  public  records  differ,  and  the  lat- 
ter are  followed,  the  entries  being  contemporaneous  with 
the  event.  Every  statement  of  fact  is  based  on  evidence 
£  of  one  of  the  kinds  mentioned,  though  references  have 
been  omitted  in  some  places. 

All  Indian  words  appearing  on  John  Dixon's  account 
books  are  given  in  the  form  used  there.  Other  Indian 
words  are  given  as  shown  in  the  Eighteenth  Annual  Re- 


11 

port  of  the  Bureau  of  American  Ethnology,  except  when 
in  quotations. 

I  acknowledge  my  indebtedness  to  Mrs.  Caroline 
M.  Newberry,  Pontiac,  Michigan,  the  only  living  child  of 
Stephen  Mack;  Henry  S.  Dixon  and  George  C.  Dixon  of 
Dixon,  Illinois;  William  C.  Andrus,  Grand  Detour,  Illi- 
nois, and  John  Blackhawk,  Black  River  Palls,  Wisconsin, 
for  assistance  without  which  this  work  could  not  have 
been  finished. 

WILLIAM  D.  BARGE. 

Chicago,  June,  1918. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

La  Sallier 1 

Stephen  Mack 11 

Fur  Trade  at  Grand  Detour 31 

Joseph  Ogee  and  his  Ferry 40 

Old  Account  Books 69 

Kinzies  at  Dixon 78 

Old  Central  Railroad 82 

John  Dixon  v.  Oron  Hamlin 95 

Dixon  Hotel  Company 103 

Illinois  and  Bock  River  R.  R.  Co 105 

First  Baptist  Church Ill 

Lee  County's  First  Physician 112 

Early  Politics  114 

Amboy 124 

Genesis  of  Lee  County 130 


EARLY  LEE  COUNTY 


LA  SALLIER. 

In  1835,  Joseph  Crawford  found  some  decaying  logs 
and  other  ruins  of  an  old  habitation  at  the  Grand  Detour 
on  the  bank  of  Franklin  Creek,  about  thirty-five  rods 
from  Rock  river.  There  was  plainly  visible  an  excavation 
as  though  made  for  use  as  a  cellar,  and  other  evidences 
of  the  existence,  at  an  earlier  date,  of  a  log  cabin. 

On  the  authority  of  a  statement  made  to  him  by  Gurdon 
S.  Hubbard,  Eufus  Blanchard  told  the  writer  that  one 
La  Sallier,  a  Frenchman,  built  a  trading  post  on  the  south 
side  of  the  river,  near  Grand  Detour,  in  1822,  and  occu- 
pied it  for  some  time.  The  location  is  shown  on  Blanch- 
ard's  Historical  Map  of  Illinois.  The  writer  called  Mr. 
Crawford's  attention  to  this  statement  of  Blanchard,  and 
it  was  then  that  Mr.  Crawford  told  me  of  his  discovery. 

That  there  was  a  trading  post  on  Eock  river  in  the  win- 
ter of  1802-1803  is  clearly  shown  by  the  Personal  Narra- 
tive of  Capt.  Thomas  G.  Anderson,  who  says  he  spent  that 
winter  "with  the  Winnebagoes  on  Bock  river.  They  were 
the  most  filthy,  most  obstinate  and  the  bravest  people  of 
any  Indian  tribe  I  have  met  with.  Here  I  had  a  half- 
breed  in  opposition  in  the  trade.  Our  houses  were  about 
half  a  mile  apart,  and  between  us  was  a  very  high  hill, 
over  which  we  had  to  pass  by  a  little  path  through  the 
bushes."  (Wis.  His.  Coll.,  vol.  9,  pp.  137,152.)  He  does 
not  state  at  what  point  on  the  river  this  post  was  lo- 
cated, but  we  know  it  was  not  at  the  site  of  La  Sallier 's 
house,  for  he  says  the  hill  stood  at  least  three  hundred 
feet  above  the  water  in  the  river.  He  does  not  give  the 
name  of  his  competitor. 

The  house  mentioned  by  Anderson  was  not  the  cabin 
at  Crabapple  Point,  on  the  northwesterly  shore  of  Lake 
Koshkonong,  that  is  said  (American  Archeologist,  v.  7, 


2  ON   ROCK  RIVER 

p.  78;  Peet,  Prehistoric  America,  v.  2,  p.  269)  to  have 
been  occupied,  at  a  time  that  is  not  stated,  by  "Le  Sel- 
lier";  for  the  ground  there  was  only  twenty  to  sixty  feet 
above  the  water.  That  cabin  was  in  ruins  in  1839. 

The  Archeologist  says,  without  mentioning  the  time, 
that  Thiebeau,  who  was  employed  by  Juneau  of  Milwau- 
kee, occupied  a  cabin  on  the  southeasterly  shore  of  this 
lake,  and  that  is  said  have  disappeared  in  1838. 

In  Waubim,  Mrs.  Kinzie  says  that  John  Kinzie  arrived 
in  Chicago  in  1804,  and  later  established  trading  posts 
"at  Rock  River  with  the  Winnebagoes  and  the  Pottawa- 
tamies,"  and  that  these  posts  contributed  to  that  at  Chi- 
cago, but  she  does  not  say  at  what  particular  places  or 
in  what  year  these  posts  were  established. 

Kinzie  evidently  had  many  trading  posts,  as  he  had 
twenty  trading  licenses  in  1803  (Letter  of  September  10, 
1803,  from  William  Burnett  to  Gov.  W.  H.  Harrison  of 
Indiana  Territory;  Hurlbut's  Chicago  Antiquities,  p. 
70),  and  some  of  them  appear  to  have  been  used  at  trad- 
ing posts  in  Illinois.  Though  so  extensively  engaged  in 
the  fur  trade,  he  was  an  independent  trader,  and  had  no 
connection  with  the  American  Fur  Company  until  1825, 
when  he  succeeded  John  Crafts  as  its  representative  at 
Chicago.  (Andreas  History  of  Chicago,  vol.  1,  p.  96.)  He 
was  Indian  sub-agent  at  Chicago,  1820-1822,  and  his  son, 
John  H.,  was  in  the  fur  trade  at  Milwaukee  in  1821  when 
he  was  ordered  to  close  his  concern  and  leave  the  place, 
having  been  detected  selling  whiskey  to  the  Indians.  (Am. 
State  Papers,  Indian  Affairs,  v.  2,  p.  360.) 

La  Sallier  was  in  the  service  of  this  company  as  early 
as  1813,  and  was  on  Rock  River  in  1822.  The  fact  that 
La  Sallier  was  occupying  this  post  in  1822  is  some  evi- 
dence that  it  was  established  by  the  American  Fur  Com- 
pany. While  this  is  but  slight  evidence,  it  is  stronger 
than  any  evidence  supporting  any  other  theory. 

The  account  books  kept  by  John  Kinzie  were  delivered 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  3 

to  the  Chicago  Historical  Society  many  years  ago.  The 
secretary  of  the  society  persuaded  James  Grant  Wilson 
to  undertake  the  writing  of  a  history  of  Chicago.  Wil- 
son thought  it  would  be  well  to  at  least  make  mention  of 
some  of  those  with  whom  Kinzie  had  dealt.  To  do  this, 
the  secretary  of  the  society  made  a  careful  examination 
of  the  books  and  took  from  them  all  the  names  of  persons 
appearing  therein.  That  list  is  now  in  the  archives  of 
the  society,  but  the  books  were  burned  in  the  great  fire 
of  1871.  It  gives  names  and  a  few  addresses,  nothing 
else.  From  it  we  learn  that  Kinzie  had  dealings  with 
Pierre  La  Salliere  September  27,  1804,  and  September  3, 
1806;  with  LaSallierre  at  Milwaukee  February  1,  1807; 
with  Mr.  Lasellier  January  12,  1817. 

In  Hurlbut  's  Chicago  Antiquities,  p.  31,  Gurdon  S.  Hub- 
bard  says  that  John  Crafts  was  sent  to  Chicago  by  a 
Mr.  Conant  of  Detroit,  the  date  not  being  given,  and  that 
he  "had,  up  to  1819,  full  control  of  this  section,  without 
opposition  from  the  American  Fur  Company,  sending  out- 
fits to  Rock  River  and  other  points  within  a  range  say  of 
a  hundred  miles  of  Chicago,"  but  he  fails  to  locate  the 
particular  place  on  Rock  river,  and  does  not  tell  when  it 
was  established  or  who  had  charge  of  it. 

Hubbard  is  slightly  in  error.  Crafts  was  not  sent  to 
Chicago  by  "Mr.  Conant,"  but  by  the  firm  of  Mack  & 
Conant,  who  were  very  extensively  engaged  in  the  fur 
trade,  and  were  strong  competitors  of  the  American  Fur 
Company  from  its  organization  until  their  failure  in  1821, 
when  their  fur  business  was  taken  over  by  that  company. 
They  established  an  agency  at  Lee's  Place,  or  Hard- 
scrabble  (Chicago)  in  1816,  putting  Crafts  in  charge.  He 
remained  there  with  the  firm  until  its  end,  when  he  en- 
tered the  service  of  the  American  Fur  Company,  being  its 
Chicago  agent  until  his  death  in  1825.  (Andreas  History 
of  Chicago,  vol.  1,  p.  93;  Hurlbut 's  Chicago  Antiquities, 
31.) 


4  WEBB'S  ROUTE 

On  the  authority  of  a  statement  made  by  Hubbard, 
Baldwin,  in  his  History  of  La  Salle  County,  says  that  the 
American  Fur  Company  had  three  or  four  trading  posts 
on  Rock  river  from  1813- '14  to  1826- '33,  but  he  does  not 
say  at  what  places  they  were  located. 

A  letter  written  by  Robert  Dickson,  the  British  Agent, 
December  20,  1813,  indicates  that  Lesaliers  was  then  lo- 
cated at  Milwaukee.  Thwaites,  in  a  note  to  this  letter, 
says  this  is  the  LeSellier  who  acted  as  guide  for  Maj. 
Long.  (Wis.  His.  Coll.  v.  11,  p.  281.) 

Another  letter  written  by  Dickson  March  9,  1814,  men- 
tions "a  letter  from  La  Salieres  of  the  3d  hist.,"  but  does 
not  state  where  he  was. 

Niles'  Register  of  July  10,  1815,  says  that  "La  Sallier 
of  Milwaukee"  was  one  of  the  Indian  traders  who  cast 
their  lot  with  the  British  in  the  War  of  1812. 

While  the  records  of  the  American  Fur  Company  show 
that  one  La  Sallier  was  in  that  company's  service  in  July 
and  September,  1817,  they  do  not  show  where  he  was  sta- 
tioned. 

That  Company  had  a  trader  named  "  Pierre  Lassal- 
lier"  at  Masquognon  in  1818.  (Wis  His.  Coll.  v.  12,  p. 
164.) 

Pierre  Lasallier  acted  as  interpreter  at  a  council  held 
at  Michilimackinac  October  24,  1824,  with  the  Potawata- 
mies.  (Mich.  Pion.  Coll.  v.  23,  p.  453.) 

Blanchard's  Map  shows  the  route  said  to  have  been 
taken  by  James  Watson  Webb  in  going  from  Fort  Dear- 
born to  Fort  Armstrong  in  1822,  but  that,  evidently,  is 
conjectural,  for  Webb  does  not  describe  his  route,  except 
to  say  he  went  to  La  Sallier 's  and  thence  across  the  prai- 
rie to  the  Mississippi.  As  he  was  at  La  Sallier 's  early  in 
February,  1822,  it  is  quite  certain  that  La  Sallier  had 
located  and  built  his  cabin  there  before  that  year,  but  it 
is  not  now  known  just  when  he  did  that,  or  when  he  left. 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  5 

In  May,  1822,  Congress  enacted  a  statute  requiring  the 
Secretary  of  War  to  report  annually  an  abstract  of  all 
of  the  licenses  granted  to  trade  with  the  Indians.  Prior 
to  that  time  there  was  no  such  requirement.  While  these 
reports  show  that  several  licenses  were  granted  after 
1820  to  persons  who  desired  to  trade  with  the  Indians 
at  Grand  Detour,  none  was  issued  to  La  Sallier.  The 
reports  state  that  on  October  13,  1821,  Alexander  Wol- 
cott,  Jr.,  Indian  Agent  at  Chicago,  issued  a  license  to 
Maurice  Lauzon  to  trade  on  " Rocky  river"  for  one  year. 
No  other  license  to  trade  on  Rock  river  was  issued  until 
October  20,  1823,  when  Wolcott  granted  one  to  Stephen 
Mack,  Jr.,  to  trade  one  year  on  " Rocky  river." 

It  is  stated  in  the  Wisconsin  Historical  Collections,  v. 
10,  p.  72,  that  "Le  Sellier"  was  enlisted  by  Maj.  Long,  as 
a  guide,  on  his  journey  from  Chicago  to  Prairie  du  Chien 
in  1823,  "  because  he  had  lived  over  thirty  years  with  the 
Indians,  had  taken  a  Winnebago  wife,  and  settled  on  the 
head  waters  of  Rock  river."  Long  crossed  Rock  river 
just  above  the  mouth  of  the  Kishwaukee,  and  farther 
from  the  "head  waters  of  Rock  river"  than  from  Grand 
Detour.  "Le  Sellier"  took  the  party  to  an  Indian  village 
on  the  Pecatonica,  (probably  that  of  Winnesheik,  where 
Freeport  now  stands),  and  there  obtained  another  guide, 
as  he  did  not  know  the  way  from  that  place  to  Prairie  du 
Chien.  (Keating,  Narrative  of  an  Expedition  to  the 
sources  of  St.  Peter's  River.) 

It  is  apparent  that  the  compilers  of  the  index  to  the 
Wisconsin  Historical  Collections  considered  Lassaliere, 
Lasaliere,  Le  Sallien  and  Le  Sellier  to  be  different  forms 
of  the  names  of  one  person.  Some  of  their  references  are 
to  the  La  Sallier  who  wras  at  Grand  Detour,  while  others 
are  to  the  Pierre  La  Saliere  whose  widow  married  George 
Schindler.  These  Collections  also  mention  La  Salieres, 
Lassalier,  La  Saliere,  Le  Saliers  and  Salieres.  The  Michi- 
gan Pioneer  Collections  mention  Pierre  Lasallier.  It  is 


6  ALTOWAN 

difficult  to  gather  the  real  facts  from  this  confused  mass, 
but  it  is  believed  that  all  that  has  been  printed  about  La 
Sallier  is  set  forth  herein. 

The  records  of  the  parish  of  Michilimackinac,  as  print- 
ed in  the  Wisconsin  Historical  Collections  (v.  19,  p.  86), 
show  the  baptism,  August  1,  1786,  of  l '  Therese,  about  ten 
years  old,  daughter  of  Sieur  Jean  Baptiste  Marcot  and  of 
Thimotee,  of  the  Outaois  nation,  his  lawful  wife."  To 
this  entry  Thwaites  has  added  a  note  saying  that  Therese 
became  the  wife,  first  of  Pierre  La  Saliere,  and,  later,  of 
George  Schindler.  As  Therese  was  baptized  in  the  Catho- 
lic faith,  and  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  her  husband 
was  of  that  faith,  it  is  not  probable  that  they  ever  were 
divorced.  As  she  married  Schindler  July  12,  1804  (Wis. 
His.  Coll.  v.  18,  p.  508),  it  is  fairly  certain  that  her  first 
husband  was  not  the  La  Sallier  who  was  at  Grand  De- 
tour in  1822. 

In  his  dedication  of  "Altowan,  or  Incidents  of  Life  and 
Adventure  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,"  published  in  1846, 
J.  Watson  Webb  says  that  early  in  February,  1822,  the 
principal  chief  of  the  Potawatamies  reported  to  the  Indi- 
an agent  at  Fort  Dearborn  that  his  tribe  had  been  in- 
vited by  the  Sioux  to  unite  with  them  to  cut  off  the  garri- 
son at  "St.  Peters,  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,"  where 
Col.  Snelling  was  then  stationed  with  the  Fifth  Infantry. 
The  commanding  officer  at  Fort  Dearborn  desired  to  con- 
vey this  intelligence  to  the  officer  at  Fort  Armstrong,  to 
be  thence  carried  to  Col.  Snelling,  but  the  voyageurs  re- 
fused to  go,  and  thereupon  the  task  of  conveying  the 
message  fell  upon  Webb,  who  was  an  adjutant  and  he  de- 
cided that  he  would  make  the  trip  himself.  He  set  out 
accompanied  by  a  sergeant  and  a  Potawatomi  Indian. 

"Altowan"  contains  nothing  relating  to  Illinois,  ex- 
cept that  in  his  dedication  Webb  says: 

"My  instructions  were  to  employ  the  Pottawatamie  as 
a  guide  to  the  Rock  river,  where  the  country  of  the  Wine- 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  7 

bagoes  commenced,  and  then  take  a  Winebago  as  a  guide 
to  Fort  Armstrong — the  leading  object  being  so  to  ar- 
range our  line  of  travel  as  to  avoid  the  prairies,  upon 
which  we  would  necessarily  suffer  from  the  cold.  I  had 
been  apprised  that  I  would  find  an  old  Canadian  voya- 
guer  residing  with  his  Indian  family  in  a  trading  hut  on 
Rock  river,  and  it  was  to  him  my  Pottawatamie  was  to 
guide  me. 

Toward  evening  on  the  fifth  day,  we  reached  our  place 
of  destination ;  and  old  La  Sailer,  recognizing  us  as  whites 
intimated  by  signs,  as  he  conducted  us  to  the  loft  of 
his  hut,  that  we  were  to  preserve  a  profound  silence.  All 
who  live  in  the  Indian  country  learn  to  observe  signs; 
and  it  is  wonderful  how  soon  we  almost  forget  to  ask 
questions.  I  knew  that  something  was  wrong,  but  it 
never  entered  my  head  to  enquire  what  it  was, — Indian- 
like,  quite  willing  to  abide  my  time,  even  if  the  finger 
closely  pressed  upon  the  lips  of  the  old  man  had  not 
apprised  me  that  I  should  get  no  answer  until  it  suited 
his  discretion  to  make  a  communication. 

It  was  nearly  dark  when  we  were  consigned  to  the  loft 
of  the  good  old  man ;  and  for  three  long  hours  we  saw  him 
not.  During  this  period  there  was  abundant  time  for 
meditation  upon  our  position;  when  all  at  once  the  pro- 
found stillness  which  reigned  in  and  around  the  hut  was 
broken  by  the  startling  sound  of  a  Winebago  war-dance 
in  our  immediate  vicinity.  This,  as  you  may  imagine, 
was  no  very  agreeable  sound  for  my  sergeant  or  myself, 
but  it  was  perfectly  horrifying  to  my  Pottawatamie;  all 
of  which  tribe,  as  also  their  neighbours,  were  as  much  in 
awe  of  a  Winebago,  as  is  a  flying-fish  of  a  dolphin.  But 
all  surprise  has  its  end;  and  at  length  the  war-dance 
ceased — music  of  which,  at  times,  could  only  be  likened 
to  the  shrieks  of  the  damned  and  then,  again,  partake  of 
the  character  of  the  recitative  in  an  Italian  opera,  until,  at 
length,  it  died  away,  and  all  was  silence. 

Then  came  old  La  Sailer,  whose  head,  whitened  by  the 


8  WINNEBAGOES  BREAK  JAIL 

snows  of  eighty  winters,  as  it  showed  itself  through  the 
trap  in  the  floor,  was  a  far  more  acceptable  sight  than  I 
could  have  anticipated  it  would  be  when  I  left  the  fort. 
Having  been  informed  ',vho  we  were,  and  my  desire  to 
procure  a  Winebago  to  guide  me  to  Fort  Armstrong,  he 
inquired  whether  we  had  not  heard  the  war-dance,  and  if 
we  could  not  conjecture  its  object!  He  then  proceeded 
to  state  that  two  Winebagoes,  who  had  been  tried  and 
sentenced  to  be  executed  for  the  murder  of  a  soldier  at 
Fort  Armstrong,  had  tscaped  from  the  jail  at  Kaskaskia, 
and  arrived  on  the  river  a  few  days  previous ;  that  in  con- 
sequence, the  whole  nation  was  in  a  state  of  extraordinary 
excitement  and  that  the  war-dance  to  which  we  had  list- 
ened, was  preparatory  to  the  starting  of  a  war  party  for 
Fort  Armstrong  to  attack  it,  or  destroy  such  of  the  garri- 
son as  they  could  meet  with  beyond  its  palisades;  and 
that  of  course  our  only  safety  was  in  making  an  early 
start  homeward.  I  inquired  whether  I  could  not  avoid  the 
Indians  by  crossing  the  Great  Prairie,  and  thus  striking 
the  Mississippi  above  the  fort.  He  answered,  that  by 
such  a  route  I  would  certainly  avoid  the  Indians  until  I 
reached  the  vicinity  of  the  Mississippi ;  but  that  we  would 
as  certainly  perish  with  the  cold,  as  there  was  no  wood 
to  furnish  fire  at  night.  The  mercury  in  the  thermometer, 
as  I  well  knew,  had  stood  at  five  degrees  below  zero  when 
I  left  the  garrison,  and  it  had  certainly  been  growing 
colder  each  day;  and  therefore  I  apparently  acquiesced 
in  his  advice,  and  requested  to  be  called  some  three  hours 
before  daylight,  which  would  give  us  a  fair  start  of  any 
pursuing  party — and  bade  him  good  night. 

But  the  old  man  doubted  my  intention  to  return  to  the 
fort ;  and  shortly  after  paid  us  another  visit,  accompanied 
by  a  very  old  Winebago,  who  avowed  himself  the  friend 
of  the  whites,  and  proceeded  to  point  out  the  folly  of  any 
attempt  to  proceed  in  my  expedition.  He  inquired  its 
purport;  and  when  I  told  him  it  was  to  visit  a  dying 
friend,  he  said  I  had  better  postpone  the  meeting  until 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  9 

after  death,  when  we  would  doubtless  meet  in  the  Para- 
dise of  the  white  man!  but  at  the  same  time  gave  me  to 
understand  that  he  did  not  believe  such  was  the  object  of 
my  visit  to  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi.  Indian-like,  he 
sought  not  to  pry  farther  into  my  affairs,  but  expressed 
his  respect  for  all  who  knew  how  to  keep  their  own  coun- 
sels and  the  counsels  of  their  government.  His  remarks 
were  kind,  and  in  the  nature  of  approbation  of  the  past 
and  advice  for  the  future,  and  coming  from  such  a  source, 
made  a  lasting  impression. 

Again  we  were  left  to  ourselves;  and  then,  doubtless, 
I  wished  myself  safe  in  the  garrison.  But  to  return,  and 
that  too,  from  fear,  and  the  object  of  my  journey  unac- 
complished, was  inevitable  disgrace.  But  what  was  still 
more  important,  was  the  consequence  to  others  of  my  re- 
turn. I  could  not  but  think  there  was  an  understanding 
between  the  Winebagoes  and  the  Sioux;  and  if  there  had 
lingered  on  my  mind  a  doubt  of  the  story  of  the  Potta- 
watamie  chief,  that  doubt  was  now  at  an  end;  and,  of 
course,  a  sense  of  duty  to  a  whole  regiment  of  officers  and 
men,  their  wives  and  children,  was  as  imperative  in  re- 
quiring my  advance,  as  was  the  fear  of  disgrace  in  for- 
bidding my  return.  With  two  such  motives  for  a  right 
decision,  there  could  be  no  doubt  as  to  my  course.  It  re- 
quired more  courage  to  retreat  than  to  advance;  and  I 
determined  upon  the  latter. 

Some  hours  before  the  dawn  of  day,  we  started,  appar- 
ently for  the  garrison;  but  once  out  of  sight  of  old  La 
Sailer,  we  knocked  the  shoes  off  our  horses  to  avoid  being 
traced  by  them  in  crossing  the  river,  threw  away  our 
caps,  tore  up  a  blanket  to  make  the  hood  worn  by  Indians 
in  extreme  cold  weather,  and  took  a  course  by  the  stars 
directly  west." 

As  there?  is  no  other  mention  of  La  Sailer  in  the  dedi- 
cation, our  quotation  ends  here.  After  many  troubles 
Webb  reached  Fort  Armstrong  and  delivered  his  message 
and  the  uprising  was  suppressed. 


10  TRIAL  OF  WINNEBAGOES 

Webb  was  then  a  lieutenant  in  the  Third  Infantry.  He 
left  the  army  in  1827,  after  serving  eight  years.  In  his 
later  years  (he  died  June  7, 1884)  he  was  one  of  the  great 
newspaper  men  in  New  York.  In  a  letter  written  in  1882 
he  says  he  left  Fort  Dearborn  February  4,  reaching  La 
Sallier's  place  the  evening  of  the  seventh,  and  leaving 
there  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  eighth  when 
the  thermometer,  as  recorded  at  Fort  Armstrong,  regis- 
tered twenty-seven  below  zero. 

Dr.  Everett  believed  that  Joseph  Ogee  married  a 
daughter  of  La  Sallier. 

In  the  Illinois  Spectator  (Edwardsville)  October  31, 
1820,  there  is  an  article  taken  from  the  St.  Louis  Enquirer 
saying  that  on  the  twenty-seventh  of  September  John 
Harris,  a  soldier  at  Fort  Armstrong,  went  out  hunting, 
and  on  the  fifth  of  October  his  body  was  found  shot 
and  scalped.  Two  Winnebagoes  left  Rock  Island  on  the 
morning  of  September  27  and  there  were  no  other  Indians 
in  the  neighborhood  at  the  time.  Afterwards,  six  or 
seven  Winnebagoes  visited  Fort  Armstrong  and  were 
admitted.  Major  Marston,  then  in  command  of  the  fort, 
held  three  of  the  Winnebago  chiefs  as  hostages  until  they 
delivered  the  two  Winnebagoes  who  were  said  to  have 
committed  the  murder.  The  Spectator  adds  there  were 
two  Indians  then  confined  in  jail  at  Edwardsville  who 
were  charged  with  having  committed  that  murder. 

The  report  made  by  William  Clark,  Superintendent  of 
Indian  Affairs,  of  his  expenditures  in  May,  June  and 
July,  1821,  shows  several  items  on  account  of  the  trial  at 
Kaskaskia  of  two '  Winnebagoes  who  were  indicted  for 
murder,  and  indicates  that  the  prisoners  and  witnesses 
traveled  great  distances  to  attend  the  trial.  The  report 
does  not  state  who  the  Indians  were,  where  the  crime  was 
committed,  who  was  the  victim,  or  the  result  of  the  trial. 
(Am.  State  Papers,  Indian  Affairs,  v.  2,  pp.  297,  et  seq.) 


STEPHEN  MACK. 

The  first  white  man  to  make  his  home  in  the  Rock  river 
valley  was  Stephen  Mack.  It  is  quite  certain  that  he 
lived  in  the  house  he  bought  from  La  Sallier  near  Grand 
Detour  some  time  before  1830.  Apparently,  this  makes 
him  the  first  white  settler.  But,  if  we  mean  by  settler 
one  who  established  his  permanent  abode  in  a  certain 
place,  Mack  was  not  the  first  settler  in  Lee  county. 

When  his  remains  were  removed,  in  1880,  from  the 
place  of  their  first  interment  on  his  farm  to  the  Phillips 
cemetery,  near  Harrison,  in  Winnebago  County,  by  his 
old  friends,  they  placed  in  a  bottle,  buried  there  with 
the  remains,  a  paper  reading  thus : 

"If  in  the  course  of  time  this  paper  should  meet 
the  eye  of  any  person,  be  it  known  that  the  remains 
buried  here  are  those  of  Stephen  Mack  and  his  Indian 
wife,  Ho-no-ne-gah. 

Stephen  Mack  was  born  in  Poultney,  Vermont, 
February,  1799,  and  settled  in  this  county  about  1822 
as  an  Indian  trader,  and  continued  as  a  resident 
until  his  death  in  1850,  Mrs.  Mack  having  previously 
died. 

At  the  time  of  Mack's  death  he  owned  all  of  sec- 
tion twenty-three  in  this  township  south  of  the  Peca- 
tonica  River,  and  resided  thereon  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  He  was  buried  not  far  from  where  he  lived 
by  the  side  of  his  wife  on  his  own  land.  Soon  after 
his  death,  his  children  sold  the  land  and  went  to 
Minnesota  with  their  mother's  friends,  and  at  this 
time  there  are  no  relatives  of  Mack  here. 

The  place  where  he  was  first  buried  being  in  a  large 
field,  and  the  land  under  cultivation  over  his  remains, 
the  undersigned  friends  of  Mack  and  his  wife  in 
their  lifetime,  have  moved  the  remains  to  this  place, 
and  placed  a  tombstone  over  the  same.  This  is  done 
out  of  respect  and  friendship  for  our  departed 
friends. 

Stephen  Mack  was  the  first  permanent  white  in- 
habitant of  Rock  River  valley.  He  was  a  good  citi- 

(ii) 


12  DATE    OF    BIRTH 

zen,  a  generous  friendt  a  gentleman  in  deportment 

and  an  honest  man. 

J.  B.  JEWETT, 
WILIAM  HALLEY, 
R.  H.  COMSTOCK. 
Eockton,  May  19th,  1880. 

In  his  History  of  Rockton,  Carr,  referring  to  the  date 
of  Mack's  birth,  adds  to  the  foregoing  this  note: 

"Some  think  this  is  not  correct,  for  he  must  have 
been  from  ten  to  fifteen  years  older  when  he  died 
than  this  date  would  make  him." 

In  his  list  of  births,  marriages  and  deaths  in  Rockton, 
Carr  says  Mack  was  born  in  1799.  It  may  be  that  in  the 
time  passing  between  the  writing  of  the  note  and  this  list 
of  births  Carr  found  evidence  justifying  the  statement 
that  Mack  was  born  in  1799,  but  he  does  not  show  any, 
or  he  may  have  followed  that  statement  because  he  was 
unable  to  learn  the  exact  date. 

The  family  history  recorded  in  the  bible  of  his  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Mary  Stocker-Terrill,  says  Mack  was  born  in 
Tunbridge,  Orange  County,  Vermont,  February  20,  1798. 

Carr  says  Mack  " came  west  to  Detroit  with  his  father's 
family,  soon  after  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812,  where  his 
father  held  some  position  under  the  government,  and 
might  have  had  some  connection  with  the  fur  business." 

In  a  History  of  Rock  County,  Wisconsin,  published  in 
1879,  it  is  said,  apparently  upon  the  strength  of  state- 
ments made  by  E.  P.  Crane  and  O.  P.  Bicknell  as  to  con- 
versations with  Mack,  that  he  was  a  native  of  Keene,  New 
Hampshire,  and  was  living  at  Eockton  in  the  spring  of 
1837,  and  that  he  then  said  that  he  "had  been  living  with 
the  Indians  for  more  than  sixteen  years,"  and  had  been 
adopted  by  the  Winnebagoes  after  he  married  the  daugh- 
ter of  their  chief. 

A  History  of  Oakland  County,  Michigan,  (1887)  based 
chiefly  upon  statements  made  by  Almon  Mack,  a  son  of 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  13 

the  elder  Stephen,  says  that  while  the  latter  settled  in 
Detroit  in  1807,  he  left  his  family  in  Vermont  where  the 
educational  facilities  were  far  better  than  those  Michigan 
then  had,  and  that  his  family,  except  one  daughter,  Lovicy, 
who  joined  him  about  1818,  did  not  come  west  until  1822. 

The  family  history  says  the  younger  Mack  bought  the 
La  Sallier  cabin  shortly  after  his  marriage  in  February, 
1829. 

From  the  Michigan  Pioneer  Collections  it  appears  that 
Stephen  Mack,  father  of  the  Stephen  Mack  who  lived  at 
Grand  Detour,  was  the  first  Yankee  to  open  a  store  in  De- 
troit where  he  began  business  in  1807,  dealing  in  dry 
goods,  groceries,  crockery,  hardware,  etc.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Mack  &  Conant.  That  firm  engaged  in 
the  fur  business  as  early  as  1816,  and  there  is  abundant 
evidence  that  it  prosecuted  that  business  so  actively  and 
energetically  that  it  was  a  very  lively  competitor  of  the 
American  Fur  Company.  They  established  an  agency, 
for  their  fur  business,  in  Chicago  as  early  as  1816,  and  op- 
erated it  until  about  the  time  of  their  failure  in  1821,  when 
that  part  of  their  business  was  taken  over  by  the  Ameri- 
can Fur  Company.  John  Crafts  represented  them  at 
Chicago  all  the  time  they  maintained  their  agency  there. 
After  that  he  joined  the  Fur  Company. 

The  elder  Mack  was  a  member  of  the  first  legislative 
council  of  the  territory  of  Michigan.  With  others  he 
founded  the  town  of  Pontiac,  Michigan,  where  he  died  in 
1826. 

Carr  says  the  younger  Stephen  Mack  "  attended  Dart- 
mouth College,  in  New  Hampshire,  for  a  time,  but  seemed 
to  have  left  college  before  he  graduated."  This  is  an 
error,  as  the  secretary  of  that  college  states  that  "the 
name  of  Stephen  Mack  does  not  appear  on  our  records." 

Carr's  book  purports  to  be  a  history  of  Rockton  from 
"1820  to  1898,"  and  this  may  give  the  impression  that 
Mack  settled  at  Macktown  in  1820,  but  the  text  of  the 
book  does  not  support  such  an  idea. 


14  MACK  REACHES  GRAND  DETOUR 

From  Carr's  History  it  appears  that  the  younger  Mack 
joined  a  government  expedition  around  the  lakes,  and 
while  at  Green  Bay  met  some  traders  who  told  him  that 
the  Rock  river  country  was  a  good  place  for  one  10  es- 
tablish a  trading  post.  He  promptly  started  for  Rock 
river,  reaching  it  near  where  Janesville  stands.  Thence 
he  followed  down  the  river  until  he  reached  the  Indian 
settlement  known  as  Turtle  village,  near  Beloit  Junction. 
There  he  learned  of  an  Indian  camp  at  Bird's  Grove, 
about  two  miles  down  the  river  from  Rockton,  at  the 
mouth  of  Dry  Run  Creek,  and  he  started  for  it  only  to 
lose  his  way  and  wander  about  until  he  reached  the 
Potawatamie  village  at  Grand  Detour,  and  for  two  or 
three  years  traded  with  the  Indians  there,  taking  their 
furs  in  exchange  for  his  articles  of  traffic,  and  carrying 
his  merchandise  to  and  from  Chicago  on  the  backs  of 
Indian  ponies. 

The  law  permitted  the  Indian  Agents  to  issue  licenses 
to  trade  with  the  Indians  to  such  persons  as  they  thought 
proper,  and  at  such  places  as  the  agents  designated  in 
the  licenses,  and  it  required  the  Secretary  of  War  to  re- 
port to  Congress  each  year  an  abstract  of  the  licenses  is- 
sued. The  reports  made  under  this  requirement  show 
that  on  October  20,  1823,  Alexander  Wolcott,  Jr.,  Indian 
Agent  at  Chicago,  issued  to  Stephen  Mack,  Jr.,  a  license 
to  trade  on  Rock  river  with  the  Indians  for  one  year 
with  a  capital  of  two  thousand  dollars,  (18th  Cong.,  2d 
Sess.;  Ho.  Doc.  54)  and  on  September  6,  1824,  Wolcott 
issued  a  license  to  Mack  to  trade  on  Rock  river  with  the 
Indians  for  one  year  with  a  capital  of  one  thousand  dol- 
lars. (19th  Cong.,  1st  Sess.;  Ho.  Doc.  118.} 

There  is  no  report  of  the  issue  of  any  other  license  to 
Mack  until  October  5,  1826,  when  Wolcott  granted  him  a 
license  to  trade  with  the  Indians  for  one  year  on  "Rocky 
River"  with  a  capital  of  twenty-five  hundred  dollars. 
(20th  Cong.;  1st  Sess.;  Ho.  Doc.  140.)  Nothing  has  been 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  15 

found  that  shows  what  Mack  was  doing  in  the  interval 
between  the  second  and  third  licenses,  except  that  he 
served  as  clerk  and  voted  at  an  election  of  a  constable 
held  in  the  Chicago  precinct  May  11,  1826.  (Address  by 
Judge  David  McCulloch  on  Early  Days  of  Peoria  and 
Chicago,  delivered  before  the  Chicago  Historical  Society, 
January  19,  1904.) 

The  Reports  of  the. Secretary  of  War  do  not  show  that 
any  other  licenses  were  issued  to  Mack,  yet  he  continued 
to  trade  with  the  Indians  as  long  as  any  of  them  remained 
in  his  neighborhood,  and  it  is  known  that  they  were  trad- 
ing with  him  in  June,  1835,  at  Bird's  Grove.  As  John 
Dixon  traded  with  the  Indians  at  Dixon's  Ferry  from 
1830  until  they  left  the  state,  and  never  had  a  license  to 
do  so,  and  as  no  trading  licenses  were  issued  for  any 
places  on  Bock  river  above  Prophetstown  after  1827,  it 
would  seem  the  general  belief  then  was  that  such  licenses 
were  not  then  required  for  that  territoiy,  although  as  late 
as  February,  1829,  the  Secretary  of  War  reported  that 
trading  posts  were  then  established  at  "Grand  Detour 
on  Rocky  river  *  *  and  on  Rock  river."  (20th 
Cong.,  2d  Sess.;  Ho.  Doc.  117.) 

"Mack's  relation  with  this  tribe  was  not  produc- 
tive of  the  best  of  feeling ;  and  although  he  had  taken 
the  chief 's  daughter,  Ho-no-ne-gah,  for  his  wife,  still 
his  life  was  in  danger,  because  he  refused  to  sell 
firearms  and  liquor  to  the  tribe.  During  one  of  his 
trips  to  Chicago  writh  three  of  his  ponies,  a  plan  was 
fully  matured  to  dispose  of  him  on  his  return,  and 
take  possession  of  his  effects.  His  Indian  wife,  learn- 
ing of  their  intentions,  was  on  the  lookout  for  her 
husband's  return,  and  meeting  him  far  out  from 
camp,  apprised  him  of  his  danger.  It  was  quick 
work  for  her  to  mount  one  of  the  ponies,  and  to- 
gether they  started  out  for  the  Winnebago  tribe  at 
Bird's  grove,  where  they  were  gladly  welcomed  and 
promised  protection.  It  became  their  future  home 
for  a  number  of  years."  (Carr.) 


16  VOTES  IN  CHICAGO 

It  is  to  be  noted  that  Carr  does  not  state  the  year  in 
which  Mack  located  at  Grand  Detour,  or  the  year  he 
joined  the  Winnebagoes  at  Bird's  Grove  and  no  evidence 
has  been  found  that  will  enable  one  to  fix  either  date. 

In  his  "Politics  and  Politicians  of  Chicago,"  published 
in  1886,  Bennett  says  Stephen  Mack  was  a  clerk  em- 
ployed by  the  American  Fur  Company,  and  a  son  of 
Major  Mack  of  Detroit,  and  that  he  voted  "in  the  Chi- 
cago precinct  of  Peoria  county,"  at  an  election  in  Chi- 
cago, for  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  a  constable,  held  July 
24,  1830 ;  that  he  married  an  Indian  woman  and  * '  finally 
settled  in  Pecatonica,  Winnebago  county."  Bennett  and 
John  Wentworth,  in  his  lecture  on  Early  Chicago  (Fergus 
Historical  Series,  v.  8,  p.  55)  give  a  list  of  those  voting 
at  a  special  election  held  in  the  Chicago  precinct  No- 
vember 25,  1830,  but  Mack's  name  is  not  there.  Nor  is 
it  in  the  list  Bennett  gives  of  those  voting  at  the  state 
election  August  7,  1826. 

Andreas  in  his  "History  of  Chicago,"  says  that  Mack 
voted  at  the  election  held  in  the  Chicago  precinct  August 
2,  1830,  and  describes  him  as  a  1 1  Clerk  of  American  Fur 
Company. 

In  this  connection  it  is  well  to  remember  that  these  elec- 
tions were  held  in  Chicago  and  that  no  part  of  what  is 
now  "Winnebago  county  ever  was  in  the  "Chicago  pre- 
cinct" of  Peoria  county. 

It  appears  from  his  letters  that  he  made  his  home  on 
Rock  river  during  the  winter  months.  The  fact  that  he 
voted  in  Chicago  indicates  that  he  considered  that  place 
his  home. 

Andreas  also  says  that  Stephen  Mack  bought  lots  seven 
and  eight,  in  block  forty-three,  in  the  original  town  of 
Chicago,  September  29, 1830,  for  $53.  This  block  is  bound- 
ed by  West  Randolph,  North  Market  and  West  Washing- 
ton streets  and,  on  the  west,  by  the  old  East  Water  street 
(now  vacated). 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  17 

In  his  later  years  Mack  visited  Grand  Detour  several 
times,  and  from  what  he  said  on  those  visits,  as  it  was  re- 
peated by  Charles  Throop  to  others,  it  is  known  that  Mack 
bought  La  Sallier's  cabin  and  occupied  it  until  he  moved 
to  Bird's  Grove.  He  was  living  at  Bird's  Grove  in 
May,  1832.  If  the  family  history  is  correct  in  saying  that 
he  bought  the  cabin  soon  after  his  marriage  in  1829,  it  is 
clear  he  did  not  occupy  the  cabin  for  any  great  length  of 
time. 

Kett's  History  of  Winnebago  County  (1877)  says  Mack 
was  living  in  that  county  as  early  as  1829. 

In  their  Atlas  of  Illinois,  published  in  1876,  Warner 
and  Beers  say  Mack  was  living  at  Bird's  Grove  in  1829. 

Jefferson  Davis,  a  Lieutenant  in  the  First  Infantry, 
was  stationed  at  Fort  Winnebago  in  the  fall  of  1829  and 
remained  there  until  1831.  He  said,  "When  sent  on  vari- 
ous expeditions  I  crossed  Rock  River  at  different  points, 
but  saw  no  sign  of  settlement  above  Dixon's  Ferry." 
(Jefferson  Davis,  A  Memoir,  by  Varina  Davis.) 

"Mack  was  living  in  peace  and  quietude  with  the 
Indians  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Black  Hawk  war. 
After  the  battle  of  Stillman  Valley,  when  that  re- 
nowned chief  visited  this  tribe  to  induce  them  to  fol- 
low him  on  his  journey  northward,  Mack  used  his  in- 
fluence against  such  a  movement ;  and  although  Black 
Hawk  was  very  angry  with  the  white  trader,  the  little 
tribe  remained  on  their  old  camping  ground,  and  the 
great  chief  marched  on  without  them. 

It  is  said  that  the  feeling  was  so  strong  against 
Mack  during  the  visit  of  Black  Hawk,  that  the  chief 
of  the  tribe  advised  him  to  go  away  for  a  time  for 
personal  safety.  Accordingly  he  privately  went  to 
an  island  in  the  river,  now  known  as  Webber 's  island, 
where  he  was  supplied  with  food  by  his  faithful  wife 
until  it  was  safe  for  him  to  return.  This  may  be  an 
actual  fact  or  a  romance,  but  it  is  given  for  what  it  is 
worth."  (Carr.) 


18  BLACK  HAWK  WAR 

Both  fact  and  romance  are  in  this  statement.  Black 
Hawk  did  visit  the  Indians  near  Bird's  Grove  to  persuade 
them  to  join  him,  and  Mack  did  leave  his  home ;  but  both 
these  events  occurred  before  the  battle  of  Stillman  Valley. 
Mack  may  have  stayed  at  Webber's  island,  but  if  so  it 
was  only  for  a  short  time. 

That  Mack  took  part  in  the  Black  Hawk  War  is  evi- 
dent from  his  letters  to  his  sister,  Mrs.  Lovicy  Cooper, 
reading  as  follows : 

Chicago,  May  30, 1832. 
DEAR  SISTER  : 

I  am  happy  in  having  an  opportunity  of  informing 
you  and  the  rest  of  my  relations  at  Detroit  and  Pon- 
.     tiac  that  I  am  still  alive  and  well.    We  are  at  war  at 
present  with  the  Socks  Indians. 

I  left  my  wintering  ground  or  trading  station  on 
the  9th  inst.  and  as  I  left  it  the  Socks  took  possession 
of  my  house  but  were  prevented  from  injuring  me 
or  my  men  by  the  Winabagoe  Indians  who  claimed 
me  as  their  friend  and  trader.  Immediately  on  my 
arrival  at  this  place  I  joined  with  the  Inhabitants  of 
this  place,  took  up  arms  and  garrisoned  fort  Dear- 
bourn,  and  we  have  been  able  by  that  means  to  afford 
protection  to  all  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  surrounding 
country  that  could  get  in  in  season,  but  I  am  sorry 
to  say  that  our  force  was  too  small  to  enable  us  to  go 
to  the  assistance  of  such  as  could  not  get  in  in  season 
to  serve  themselves  and  in  consequence  three  fam- 
ilies consisting  of  14  persons  were  killed  and  several 
houses  burned.  After  being  reinforced  by  those  who 
got  in  from  the  outer  settlements,  we  went  out  in  pur- 
suit of  the  murderers,  but  could  not  find  them  and 
after  burying  the  dead  we  came  back  to  wait  for 
reinforcements  to  enable  us  to  fight  our  way  through 
to  the  main  army  (which  was  last  heard  from  near 
my  trading  post  on  Rocky  Elver)  and  assist  in  pun- 
ishing the  marauders. 

Chicago,  June  13,  1832. 
DEAR  SISTER: 

I  have  been  out  on  one  expedition  against  the  Sauke 
Indians  since  my  last  letter,  but  we  could  not  find 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  19 

them  where  we  expected,  and  were  obliged  to  return 
and  wait  for  reinforcements  to  enable  us  to  penetrate 
further  into  the  country.  General  Atkinson  will  be 
on  the  move  again  in  a  few  days,  and  General  J.  B. 
Williams,  (now  at  this  place)  will  probably  move  on 
to  his  assistance.  In  that  case  I  shall  join  him  with 
a  few  volunteer  mounted  riflemen  from  this  place. 
You  need  be  under  no  apprehension  on  my  account 
for  I  can  assure  you  that  all  of  the  accounts  that 
you  receive  from  the  seat  of  war  are  very  much  ex- 
aggerated. It  is  really  amusing  to  me  who  see  all 
the  operation  and  know  perhaps  better  than  almost 
any  one  the  real  danger,  to  read  the  accounts  of  ma- 
neuvers of  the  enemy  never  thought  of  by  them,  and 
of  battles  never  fought.  And  then  to  sit  down  and 
listen  to  the  remarks  of  the  raw  Yankees  who  have 
lately  emigrated  to  this  country,  one  would  think 
that  Napoleon  Bonaparte  had  risen  from  the  grave 
and  presented  himself  in  the  person  of  the  Black- 
hawk  and  that  the  spirit  of  his  millions  of  heroes 
were  concentrated  in  the  5  or  600  warriors  led  by  that 
chief.  I  by  no  means  wish  to  undervalue  our  enemies, 
they  are  brave  and  subtle  and  it  may  be  dangerous 
to  encounter  them  without  an  overwhelming  force, 
but  I  can  by  no  means  approve  of  the  tardy  opera- 
tions of  our  chief  officers,  for  it  gives  time  to  the 
nimble  footed  Indians  to  ravage  our  frontier  settle- 
ments and  bathe  their  hands  in  the  blood  of  helpless 
women  and  unsuspecting  infants.  Had  more  prompt 
measures  been  pursued  in  the  commencement,  I  have 
no  doubt  but  many  lives  would  have  been  spared  and 
we  should  have  been  at  this  moment  in  the  full  en- 
joyment of  peace." 

Mack's  reference  to  the  burial  of  those  killed  by  the 
Indians  undoubtedly  is  to  the  massacre  at  Indian  Creek, 
La  Salle  county,  May  20, 1832,  and  aids  us  in  determining 
the  command  of  which  he  was  a  part. 

Five  companies  of  volunteers  were  raised  in  Cook 
county  for  service  in  the  Black  Hawk  war.  One  of  them, 
raised  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Chicago,  was  organ- 
ized May  3,  1832,  and  commanded  by  Captain  Gholsori 


20  CAPT.  BROWN'S  COMPANY 

Kercheval.  Captain  James  Walker  commanded  a  com- 
pany raised  in  the  neighborhood  of  Plainfield  and  en- 
rolled June  19.  Captain  Joseph  Naper 's  company  was 
organized  July  19,  nearly  all  of  its  members  living  in  the 
vicinity  of  Naperville.  A  company  commanded  by  Cap- 
tain Holden  Scission  was  organized  July  23.  The  muster 
rolls  of  four  of  these  companies  have  been  preserved,  but 
the  name  of  Stephen  Mack  does  not  appear  on  any  of 
them. 

Andreas,  in  his  History  of  Chicago,  v.  1,  p.  269,  says 
that  some  thirty  of  those  in  Kercheval 's  company  also 
enrolled  in  a  company  commanded  by  Captains  Jesse  B. 
Brown  and  Richard  J.  Hamilton,  and  that  this  company 
— Joseph  Naper  being  a  member — made  a  scouting  tour 
through  the  country  as  far  as  Holderman's  Grove,  Plain- 
field  and  Ottawa,  and  that  the  remains  of  those  massa- 
cred at  Indian  Creek  were  buried  by  the  men  of  this 
company.  The  muster  roll  of  this  company  was  not 
preserved. 

In  the  chapter  of  his  History  of  Chicago  that  was 
written  in  February,  1854,  Bross  says  that  "late  in  the 
month  of  May,  1832,  a  small  force  consisting  of  twenty- 
five  men,  was  organized  in  the  fort  under  the  command  of 
Capt.  J.  B.  Brown,  with  Capt.  Joseph  Naper  and  Col. 
R.  J.  Hamilton,"  and  that  this  command  buried  the 
bodies  of  those  killed  in  the  massacre,  and  then  went  to 
Ottawa  where  it  joined  a  part  of  a  company  from  Taze- 
well  county  under  Major  Bailey,  and  the  whole  detach- 
ment then  proceeded  to  Chicago  under  the  command  of 
Major  Bailey. 

A  History  of  Du  Page  County,  by  C.  W.  Richmond  and 
H.  F.  Vallette  (1857),  says  that  members  of  a 
company  raised  in  Chicago  and  commanded  by  Captain 
Brown  and  Colonel  Hamilton  assisted  the  men  of  Still- 
man's  command,  under  Colonel  Johnson,  in  burying  the 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  21 

bodies  of  those  massacred  at  Indian  Creek.  (Baskin's 
History  of  Du  Page  County,  p.  37.) 

In  his  Memories  of  Shaubena,  Matson  says  the  burial 
was  by  ' '  a  company  of  rangers,  under  Captain  Naper,  or 
Brown,  from  Chicago ' '  and  a  party  from  Putnam  county. 

In  a  letter  written  May  26,  1832,  T.  J.  V.  Owen,  then 
Indian  Agent  at  Chicago,  says  "The  party  of  mounted 
men  who  left  here  some  days  since  upon  an  Indian  excur- 
sion has  this  moment  returned"  after  burying  the  bodies 
of  those  slain  in  this  massacre.  (Mich.  Pioneer  Coll., 
v.  21,  p.  368.) 

Bearing  in  mind  the  fact  that  the  letters  of  Mack  and 
Owen  were  written  when  the  facts  they  mention  were 
fresh  in  the  mind,  it  seems  clear  that  Mack  was  in  Cap- 
tain Brown's  company,  and  that  he  did  assist  in  the 
burial  of  the  victims  of  the  massacre. 

After  the  capture  of  Black  Hawk  he  returned  to  Bird's 
Grove  and  spent  the  winter  there,  going  back  to  Chicago 
in  the  early  part  of  May,  1833. 

In  a  letter  to  his  sister,  written  at  Chicago,  August  24, 
1833,  he  said:  "We  are  preparing  for  the  Indian  Treaty 
which  is  to  take  place  next  month.  After  the  payment 
of  the  Indian  annuities  I  shall  take  my  departure  for 
my  winter  quarters  in  the  west  as  usual." 

In  the  treaty  made  at  Chicago,  September  26, 1833,  with 
the  Chippewa,  Ottawa  and  Potawatomi  Indians,  provi- 
sion was  made  for  the  payment  of  six  hundred  dollars 
to  Eosa  and  Mary,  children  of  *  *  Hoo-mo-ni  gah, ' '  wife  of 
Stephen  Mack ;  five  hundred  dollars  to  Stephen  Mack, '  *  in 
trust  for  the  heirs  of  Stephen  Mack,  deceased, ' '  and  three 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  to  Stephen  Mack,  Jr.  This  pro- 
'dsion  for  "the  heirs  of  Stephen  Mack,  deceased,"  is  puz- 
zling, unless  it  was  intended  to  pay  some  old  debt  the 
Indians  owed  the  elder  Mack. 

With  the  exception  of  Stephen  Mack,  the  first  perma- 
nent white  settlers  in  Rockton  were  William  Talcott  and 


22  MACKTOWN 

his  son  Thomas  B.  Talcott.  The  latter  kept  a  journal  in 
which  he  wrote  the  events  of  the  various  days  passing  as 
they  went  about  northern  Illinois  looking  for  a  desirable 
place  to  make  a  home.  Under  date  of  Saturday,  July  25, 
1835,  he  says  they  forded  a  river, '  *  crossed  a  small  prairie, 
went  into  the  woods  and  came  to  Stephen  Mack's  Indian 
trading  establishment,  and  once  more  put  up  with  a  white 
man  who  had  a  squaw  wife.  Found  we  were  on  the  bank 
of  Rock  river,  two  miles  below  the  mouth  of  the  Peca- 
tonica  and  six  miles  south  of  the  line  of  Wisconsin  ter- 
ritory." On  the  next  day  he  wrote:  "Shall  stay  with 
our  friend  Mack  today.  There  are  no  inhabitants  in  sev- 
eral miles  except  the  Indians,  who  come  around  and  Mack 
trades  with  them  today  as  much  as  any  day.  All  days  are 
alike  to  the  children  of  the  forest.  Mack  is  in  the  employ 
of  the  American  Fur  Company,  and  has  been  all  his  life. 
The  Indians  have  confidence  in  him  and  he  has  no 
trouble." 

Mack  thought  that  the  bluff  at  the  mouth  of  the  Peca- 
tonica  river 

"would  be  a  good  place  to  locate  a  town  in  view  of 
river  navigation,  and  was  in  correspondence  with  a 
Mr.  Bradstreet,  of  Albany,  .N.  Y.,  on  the  advent  of 
the  first  white  settlers  in  1835.  It  was  then  consid- 
ered that  the  Pecatonica  was  a  navigable  stream  for 
one  hundred  miles  from  its  mouth,  and  Rock  River 
one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  up  into  the  territory  of 
Wisconsin.  With  this  large  prospect  in  view,  the 
mouth  of  the  Pecatonica  River  was  a  very  desirable 
location  for  a  town.  Accordingly  Mack  took  posses- 
sion of  this  tract  of  land  in  the  fall  of  1835,  and  per- 
manently resided  there  until  his  death.  The 
place  took  the  name  of  Macktown,  which  it  still  re- 
tains, although  the  once  flourishing  settlement  has 
entirely  disappeared,  save  the  substantial  farm  house 
which  he  built  there.  *  *  Mack  had  his  town 
platted,  as  he  owned  all  of  section  twenty- three  south 
of  Pecatonica  River  and  sold  many  lots.  In  the 
height  of  his  prosperity  he  valued  a  corner  lot  near 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  23 

his  store  at  $1,000.  When  told  that  his  land  was 
too  uneven  for  a  town,  he  said  'it  is  far  better  than 
Milwaukee.'"  (Carr.) 

In  1834,  Congress  enacted  a  law  granting  to  Lewis 
Banezakiewitz,  and  his  associates,  being  two  hundred 
thirty-five  exiles  from  Poland,  who  were  transported  to 
the  United  States  by  the  order  of  the  Emperor  of  Austria, 
the  right  to  purchase,  at  the  minimum  price,  thirty-six 
sections  of  land,  to  be  selected  by  them  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  in  any  three  ad- 
jacent townships  in  Illinois  or  Michigan.  Baron  Louis 
Chlopicki  and  John  Prehal  were  authorized  to  act  as 
the  agents  of  these  exiles  in  selecting  the  land,  and 
Chlopicki  selected  two  large  tracts  of  land  in  Winnebago 
county  that  were  not  connected  with  each  other.  One 
of  them  contained  ten  thousand,  nine  hundred  and  sev- 
enty acres  and  included  practically  all  the  land  within 
the  present  city  of  Rockford,  and  the  other  contained 
twelve  thousand  acres  in  the  present  town  of  Rockton,  in- 
cluding, with  other  lands,  sections  twenty -three  and  twen- 
ty-six. As  soon  as  this  was  knowTi  in  the  neighborhood, 
the  men  who  had  settled  in  that  territory  and  made  claim 
to  the  lands  they  occupied,  and  who  had  organized  a 
claim  protective  association,  appointed  a  committee  to 
resist  this  selection.  Mack,  a  member  of  the  claim  asso- 
ciation, was  made  chairman  of  this  special  committee,  as 
he  had  made  claim  to  the  west  half  of  section  twenty-six 
and  that  part  of  section  twenty-three  south  of  the  river 
in  the  present  town  of  Rockton.  In  October,  1837,  this 
committee  sent  a  petition  to  William  L.  May,  Congress- 
man of  that  district,  and  Richard  M.  Young,  one  of  our 
United  States  Senators,  stating  that  the  petitioners  were 
actual  residents  upon  the  land  they  occupied  prior  to 
the  fall  of  1835,  and  some  of  them  in  1834;  that  Chlo- 
picki, knowing  that  they  were  in  possession  of  these  lands, 
had  promised  them  that  they  would  not  be  disturbed ;  yet, 
disregarding  his  promise,  he  had  selected  twenty  sections, 


24  WINNEBAGO  PAYMENT 

sixteen  of  which  were  then  occupied  by  the  petitioners, 
who  felt  aggrieved  because,  following  the  custom  of  the 
country,  they  had  entered  upon  the  land  in  good  faith  and 
made  improvements  thereon,  intending  to  buy  the  land 
as  soon  as  it  was  put  upon  the  market.  They  expressed 
a  willingness  to  buy  their  peace  by  making  a  fair  com- 
promise with  Chlopicki,  and  asked  for  legislation  that 
would  enable  them  to  secure  the  lands  they  occupied  and 
thus  save  the  cost  of  their  improvements  and  labor.  (25th 
Cong.;  3d  Sess.;  Sen.  Doc.  161.)  The  result  was  the 
passage  of  the  Act  of  April  14,  1842,  which  declared  that 
Chlopicki 's  selections  had  not  been  made  lawfully,  and 
it  specifically  gave  the  residents  an  opportunity  to  per- 
fect their  claims,  and  permitted  the  exiles  to  select  other 
lands. 

By  the  treaty  made  at  Washington  November  1,  1837, 
the  Winnebagoes  ceded  all  their  land  east  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  agreed  to  remove  therefrom  within  eight 
months  after  the  ratification  of  the  treaty.  The  treaty 
provided  for  the  payment  of  various  sums,  aggregating 
$38,000,  to  certain  persons  named,  out  of  the  sum  of 
$200,000,  and  that  the  balance  "  shall  be  applied  to  the 
debts  of  the  nation,  which  may  be  ascertained  to  be  justly 
due,  and  which  may  be  admitted  by  the  Indians,  pro- 
vided, that  if  all  their  debts  shall  amount  to  more  than 
this  balance,  their  creditors  shall  be  paid  pro  rota,  upon 
their  giving  receipts  in  full, ' '  and  that  no  claim  for  depre- 
dations should  be  allowed.  Provision  was  also  made  for 
the  payment,  under  the  direction  of  the  President,  to  the 
relations  and  friends  of  the  Winnebagoes  "having  not 
less  than  one-quarter  of  Winnebago  blood"  of  the  sum 
of  $100,000.  The  commissioners  appointed  to  adjust  these 
claims  proceeded  to  Prairie  du  Chien  where  they  met  the 
Indians  and  the  various  claimants  in  1838.  The  report  of 
the  Secretary  of  War  shows  that  Stephen  Mack  presented 
a  claim  for  $6,500  for  merchandise  sold  the  Winnebagoes 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  25 

which  the  commissioners  allowed  at  $2,500  and,  the  claims 
exceeding  the  balance,  paid  him  his  proportion, — $2,- 
329.50.  The  commissioners  also  paid  to  him  the  sum  of 
one  thousand  dollars  for  each  of  his  five  children,  Rosa, 
age  eight ;  Mary,  age  six ;  William,  age  four ;  Louisa,  age 
two  and  one-half,  and  Thomas  H.,  one  year,  "for  valuable 
services  the  father  and  mother  rendered,  and  the  dis- 
position and  ability  of  the  children  to  do  so." 

When  the  pioneer  steamboat  "Gypsy"  made  her  mem- 
orable voyage  up  Rock  river  in  1838,  "Mack  heard  the 
steamer's  whistle  as  she  came  around  the  bend  in  the 
river  and  hurried  down  to  the  shore  to  drive  a  stake 
for  them  to  tie  up  to  on  his  side  of  the  river, ' '  but  he  was 
disappointed,  as  she  tied  to  a  stake  on  the  other  side  of 
the  river.  (Carr.) 

"In  1839  Mack  built  the  large  two  story  house 
which  is  now  (1898)  the  sole  survivor  of  that  early 
settlement.  At  the  time  of  its  erection,  it  was  the  best 
house  west  of  the  lake,  and  but  few  equaled  it  in  Chi- 
cago. It  was  built  on  a  good  stone  foundation,  the 
first  in  the  place,  and  when  completed  was  painted, 
which  was  a  luxury  rarely  indulged  in  during  those 
early  times.  He  occupied  this  house  until  his  death. 
He  built  other  houses,  but  they  did  not  involve  such 
an  outlay  of  money.  *  The  first  one  built  west 

of  Mack's  house  was  a  frame  structure,  and  a  story 
and  a  half  high.  The  lower  part  was  occupied  for 
several  years  by  Sylvester  Stevens,  as  a  furniture 
room  and  work  shop.  The  upper  story  was  reached 
by  stairs  on  the  outside,  and  was  first  used  for  a 
school  house  for  Mack's  children  and  such  others  as 
lived  in  the  vicinity.  Some  Indian  children  were  in- 
duced to  attend  for  a  time,  but  all  the  effort  put  forth 
to  educate  them  was  comparatively  labor  lost.  The 
different  teachers  were  paid  almost  wholly  by  Mr. 
Mack.  This  school  was  kept  up  until  he  built  his 
school  house  in  another  part  of  the  place,  about 
1846.  (Carr.) 


26  MACK'S   FERRY 

He  established  a  ferry  across  Rock  river  about  1838 
and  ran  it  for  some  time.  It  was  operated  until  1843 
when  he,  and  his  associates,  David  Jewett  and  Merrill 
E.  Mack,  a  cousin,  under  a  charter  granted  by  the  state, 
built  what  was  commonly  called  Mack's  bridge,  the  first 
to  span  Rock  river  in  Illinois.  Mack  furnished  the 
greater  part  of  the  money  for  this  venture.  The  bridge 
had  a  draw  span  that  gave  a  clear  channel  thirty-six 
feet  wide.  It  was  entirely  destroyed  by  a  freshet  June  1, 
1851,  and  never  rebuilt. 

Carr  says,  " George  Stevens'  family  came  in  '38.  He 
was  postmaster  about  1840,  following  after  Mack  in  the 
office."  He  does  not  state  when  Mack  was  appointed. 

Mack  conducted  a  store  for  several  years,  being  as- 
sisted for  some  time  by  his  cousin  Merrill  E.  Mack,  but 
this  venture  proved  to  be  disastrous,  as  appears  from 
his  letter  of  August  26,  1847,  to  his  sister,  in  which  he 
says : 

*  *  *"You  inquire  about  my  circumstances.  I 
will  answer.  I  lost  from  $4000  to  $5000  by  our  late 
Cousin  Merrel  E.  Mack.  I  furnished  him  cash  to 
carry  on  business,  and  when  he  died  his  estate  proved 
insolvent  and  all  I  got  was  in  old  goods  or  other 
worthless  trash.  This  has  reduced  my  means  so 
that  I  have  given  up  trade  and  am  now  working  one 
or  two  good  farms  which  I  own.  I  hold  two  or  three 
small  offices  which  occupies  a  portion  of  my  time,  but 
does  not  add  much  to  my  income.  I  owe  no  man  a 
Dollar  and  never  will.  I  pride  myself  in  maintaining 
a  character  far  above  the  possibility  of  reproach  in 
pecuniary  matters,  and  the  result  is  I  am  burdened 
with  every  petty  office  of  trust  that  has  no  compen- 
sating salary,  in  my  neighborhood." 

After  the  collapse  of  the  State  Internal  Improvement 
scheme  he  took  an  active  part  in  the  effort  to  induce  Con- 
gress to  donate  150,000  acres  for  the  improvement  of  the 
navigation  of  Rock  river  from  its  mouth  to  the  terminus 
of  the  proposed  Milwaukee  and  Rock  River  canal,  and, 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  27 

acting  upon  a  resolution  adopted  at  a  meeting  held  in 
Rockford  in  January,  1840,  joined  with  several  hundred 
others  in  a  memorial  to  Congress  for  that  purpose.  Noth- 
ing came  of  the  effort  except  the  printing  of  the  memo- 
rial by  order  of  the  Senate  in  May,  1840.  Many  of  the 
signers  of  this  memorial  were  active  in  public  affairs  in 
the  valley  in  later  years,  among  them  being  John  Deere, 
W.  A.  House,  Solon  Cumins,  Charles  Throop,  Chester 
Badger,  Abram  Brown,  Joseph  Crawford,  T.  D.  Board- 
man,  I.  S.  Boardman,  A.  L.  Porter,  M.  Fellows,  0.  F. 
Ayers,  E.  Southwick,  N.  G.  H.  Morrill,  B.  B.  Loveland, 
D.  B.  McKenny  and  Carlton  Bailey. 

He  was  appointed  and  served  as  a  delegate  from  Win- 
nebago  county  to  the  convention  held  at  Rockford  Jan- 
uary 7, 1846,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  measures  to  secure 
the  construction  of  a  railroad  from  Galena  to  Chicago. 
(Stennett,  History  of  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Ry. 
Co.) 

He  took  an  active  interest  in  the  public  affairs  of  his 
community,  serving  as  school  treasurer  and  postmaster. 
In  March,  1847,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  ''special 
commissioners"  who  were,  by  the  statute  incorporating 
the  Rockford  Hydraulic  and  Manufacturing  Company, 
charged  with  the  duty  of  determining  *  *  the  size  and  loca- 
tion of  the  lock  or  locks ' '  that  company  might  be  required 
to  construct  in  its  dam  at  Rockford.  He  was  a  justice  of 
the  peace ;  elected  in  the  district  in  which  he  lived. 

Carr's  History  of  Rockton  says  "Mack  was  elected 
associate  justice  of  the  peace  in  1849,  and  held  the  office 
as  long  as  he  lived."  The  History  of  Winnebago  Comity 
published  by  Kett,  in  1877,  says  Mack  was  an  associate 
justice  in  1849-1850.  That  office  would  have  made  Mack 
a  member  of  the  County  Court,  but  his  name  does  not 
appear  on  the  records  of  that  court  as  a  member.  It  does 
not  appear,  as  that  of  a  member  of  the  court,  on  the  rec- 
ords of  the  County  Commissioner's  Court  which  went 
out  of  existence  in  that  county  in  November,  1849. 


28  HO-NO-NE-GAH 

At  the  first  election  in  Winnebago  county  after  the 
adoption  of  the  township  organization,  April  2,  1850,  he 
was  a  candidate  for  supervisor,  but  was  defeated  by 
Sylvester  Talcott  by  a  vote  of  58  to  45. 

The  statement  in  the  family  history  that  he  married  in 
February,  1829,  undoubtedly  refers  to  his  marriage  to 
Ho-no-ne-gah.  He  remarried  her,  Carr  says,  September 
14,  1840,  according  to  the  rites  and  customs  of  the  white 
man.  She  died  in  July,  1847.  Her  white  neighbors  con- 
sidered her  a  faithful  and  devoted  wife,  a  woman  of  more 
than  ordinary  ability  and  one  who  cheerfully  aided  all 
whenever  opportunity  offered.  Carr  says  she  was 
"largely  absorbed  in  the  care  of  her  home  and  children, 
save  when  sickness  of  the  early  settlers  called  for  her 
kind  and  skillful  care  and  attention.  Then  with  her 
supply  of  nature's  remedies  which  the  Great  Spirit  had 
so  kindly  spread  out  all  around  her,  she  would  seek  out 
the  afflicted  and  bring  sunshine  and  relief  to  many  a 
suffering  one  who  fell  a  prey  to  the  ills  of  a  new  country. 
The  high  tribute  of  respect  to  Mack's  Indian  wife  was 
genuine  and  sincere,  and  although  of  a  dusky  hue,  she 
possessed  a  noble  soul  and  did  all  she  could  to  make  those 
around  her  comfortable  and  happy. 

Not  only  in  sickness  were  her  many  virtues  shown  in  a 
marked  degree,  but  the  poor  and  destitute  around  her 
incident  to  the  struggles  of  many  an  early  settler,  shared 
of  her  provisions  in  a  generous  manner.  She  delighted 
in  doing  good.  Only  once  was  she  known  to  assume  the 
garb  of  her  pale-face  sisters,  and  then  it  was  by  great 
solicitation ;  but  she  felt  so  ill  at  ease,  and  afraid  to  make 
herself  conspicuous,  she  soon  laid  it  aside  and  forever 
after  was  content  with  the  costume  of  her  tribe.  Mrs. 
Jesse  Blinn  who  was  a  near  neighbor  says  of  her :  ' l  She 
was  very  skillful  in  ornamenting  her  clothing.  She  made 
herself  for  extra  occasions  an  Indian  dress  of  fine  blue 
broadcloth,  with  a  border  five  inches  deep  all  around  it, 
worked  with  various  colored  ribbons ;  her  taste  in  blend- 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  29 

ing  colors  to  have  a  pleasing  effect  was  very  fine,  and 
her  needle  work  almost  perfect.  Many  articles  about 
her  home  bore  witness  of  her  skillful  handiwork.  Being 
a  Pottawatomie,  she  like  her  tribe,  felt  above  the  Winne- 
bago as  in  skill,  and  showed  much  ability  in  fashioning 
many  articles  of  merchandise. ' ' 

John  Blackhawk,  an  intelligent  and  well-educated  Win- 
nebago says  that  Ho-no-ne-gah  is  a  Winnebago  word 
meaning  "dear  little  one,"  and  is  the  name  given  the 
first  girl  born  in  a  Winnebago  family. 

In  a  letter  to  his  sister,  after  the  death  of  Ho-no-ne-gah, 
Mack  said : 

"You  say  you  perceive  by  the  notice  in  the  paper 
that  my  wife  died  a  Christian.  Lovicy,  if  I  know 
what  a  Christian  is,  she  was  one.  She  not  only  died 
a  Christian,  but  she  lived  one.  Not  by  profession, 
but  by  her  every  act.  Her  every  deed  proclaimed 
her  a  follower  of  Christ.  In  her  the  hungry  and 
naked  have  lost  a  benefactor,  the  sick  a  nurse,  and  I 
have  lost  a  friend  who  taught  me  to  reverence  God 
by  doing  good  to  his  creatures." 

Mack  had  no  children  by  his  second  wife,  but  Ho-no-ne- 
gah  bore  him  eleven,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The 
others  were: 

Rose  (so  named  in  his  will,  though  sometimes 
called  Eosa),  born  November  14,  1830.  In  conse- 
quence of  illness  she  was  a  mute ;  attended  school  at 
the  Illinois  Asylum  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  at  Jack- 
sonville; married  and  became  a  teacher  there. 

Mary,  born  July  15,  1832,  was  married  twice — first 
to  Charles  Stocker,  and  then  to Terrill. 

William  H.,  born  July  17,  1834.  Married  his  sister- 
in-law,  Julia  Stocker.  Was  a  soldier  in  the  Union 
army  during  the  Rebellion. 

Louisa,  born  May  6,  1836.    Married  L.  L.  Curtiss. 

Thomas  H.,  born  February  8,  1838.  Soldier  in  the 
Union  army  during  the  Rebellion. 

Henry  C.,  born  December  1,  1839 ;  died  January  1, 
1849. 


30  DEATH 

Edward,  born  December  3,  1841.  Soldier  in  the 
Union  army  in  the  Rebellion,  dying  from  injuries 
received  in  that  service. 

Matilda,  born  November  26,  1843.  Married  Ed. 
Drake. 

Caroline,  born  October  16,  1845.  Married  Arthur 
F.  Newberry.  Now  (1918)  living  in  Pontiac,  Michi- 
gan. She  is  the  only  one  of  his  children  living  now. 

On  February  24, 1848,  Mack  married  Mrs.  Isabelle  Dan- 
iels, of  Harrison,  Illinois.  He  died,  very  suddenly,  April 
10j  1850.  Soon  after  his  estate  was  settled  all  his  chil- 
dren, except  Caroline,  who  went  to  live  with  her  father's 
brother  Almon,  left  for  Minnesota  or  Wisconsin,  to  join 
the  friends  of  their  mother.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he 
owned  about  one  thousand  acres  of  land  around  Mack- 
town. 

He  was  a  good  man,  a  good  citizen  and  a  great  force 
for  good  in  the  development  of  the  new  country. 

Kett's  History  of  Winnebago  County  says  he  was  tall, 
erect  as  an  Indian,  dignified  and  manly  in  his  bearing. 

These  facts  conclusively  show  that  Mack  regarded  his 
place  at  Bird's  Grove  merely  as  a  winter  trading  sta- 
tion, and  that  he  did  not  consider  it  his  home  until  after 
August,  1833.  This  being  the  case,  it  is  evident  that  he 
was  not  the  first  permanent  white  settler  in  the  Rock 
river  valley,  for  in  April,  1830,  John  Dixon  settled  at 
Ogee's  Ferry,  where  the  city  of  Dixon  grew  up  around 
him,  and  remained  there  until  his  death  in  July,  1876. 


THE  FUR  TRADE  AT  GRAND  DETOUR. 

It  is  a  singular  fact  that  of  all  those  writing  upon  the 
history  of  Lee  or  Ogle  counties  not  one  has  mentioned  the 
fur  trade  that  was  carried  on  at  Grand  Detour  for  many 
years. 

There  is  an  abundance  of  convincing  evidence  that  the 
Rock  river  country  was  a  rich  field  for  the  fur  buyers 
and  that  Grand  Detour  was  considered  to  be  a  very  good 
location  for  one  engaged  in  that  trade. 

The  Indian  was  improvident,  giving  little  thought  to 
the  future,  and  making  but  scant  provision  for  it.  When 
the  early  frosts  reminded  him  of  the  coming  of  the  winter 
with  its  hardships  he  appealed  to  the  white  men  for  food, 
blankets,  powder,  bullets  and  shot.  These  were  given 
him  cheerfully  and  in  abundance  by  the  licensed  trader 
whose  security  was  the  Indian's  promise  to  pay  by  de- 
livering furs. 

There  are  still  living  persons  who  have  heard  John 
Dixon  say  that  the  only  money  he  lost  by  trusting  an 
Indian  was  due  from  one  who  was  killed  on  a  hunting  trip. 
Governor  Lewis  Cass  of  Michigan  and  Gen.  William 
Clark,  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  St.  Louis,  and 
no  others  had  a  better  knowledge  of  the  Indians  than 
they  possessed,  said  that  the  Indian  was  honest  and  did 
pay  as  he  promised,  unless  he  was  beguiled  by  some 
rival  trader  who  offered  more.  (20th  Cong.;  2nd  Sess. ; 
Sen.  Doc.  67.) 

The  red  man  was  governed  by  his  own  law,  and  that 
was — if,  by  the  fortunes  of  the  hunt,  he  was  unable  to 
pay  from  the  proceeds  of  the  season  following  the  day 
he  was  given  credit,  he  was  under  no  obligation  to  pay 
at  any  time, — the  debt  was  satisfied.  But  the  trader  was 
persistent  and  the  next  time  his  debtor's  tribe  entered 
into  a  treaty  with  the  United  States  for  the  sale  of  land, 
the  trader  was  present,  and  all  accounts  of  that  char- 


32  TRADING  POSTS 

acter  were  provided  for  in  that  treaty  and  paid  by  the 
United  States.  There  is  good  reason  for  the  belief  that 
some  of  the  treaties  .by  which  the  Indian  parted  with  his 
land  were  instigated  by  the  traders  who  had  bills  to 
collect. 

Under  the  Treaty  of  November  1, 1837,  with  the  Winne- 
bagoes,  commissioners  were  appointed  to  adjust  the 
claims  against  that  tribe,  and  they  reported  that  the ' l  Win- 
nebagoes  were  known  to  be  generally  honest, ' '  and  that  it 
was  the  general  belief  of  the  Winnebagoes  that  if  they 
were  unable  to  pay  their  debts  in  two  years,  some  said 
in  one  year,  then,  the  debt  became  one  of  the  nation  or 
tribe  and  the  individual  was  absolved  from  all  obliga- 
tion to  pay  it,  but  it  should  be  paid  out  of  moneys  pro- 
vided for  that  purpose  by  the  United  States.  (25th 
Cong.;  3d  Sess.;  Ho.  Doc.  229.} 

In  1796  Congress  enacted  a  law  authorizing  the  presi- 
dent to  establish  trading  houses  at  such  posts  and  places 
as  he  should  judge  most  convenient  for  trade  with  the 
Indians,  and  empowered  him  to  appoint  an  agent  for  each 
house,  whose  duty  it  should  be  to  dispose  of,  in  trade 
with  the  Indians,  such  goods  as  the  president  should 
direct  him  to  receive.  In  1806  the  president  was  author- 
ized to  appoint  a  superintendent  of  Indian  trade  who 
should  purchase  the  goods  required  and  transmit  them  to 
the  place  designated  as  trading  houses  (commonly  called 
factories)  and  also  to  appoint  an  agent  for  each  trading 
house  and  he  was  known  as  the  factor.  By  the  Act  passed 
in  1822  the  factory  system  was  abolished,  and  the  presi- 
dent was  required  to  close  up  the  trading  houses  and 
was  authorized  to  appoint  a  Superintendent  of  Indian 
Affairs  to  reside  at  St.  Louis,  and  this  superintendent  and 
the  Indian  Agents  were  given  authority  to  issue  licenses 
to  trade  with  the  Indians  at  places  designated  in  the 
license.  Another  act  of  that  year  required  the  Super- 
intendents of  Indian  Affairs,  who  were  the  governors  of 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  33 

the  territories,  and  the  Superintendent  at  St.  Louis,  and 
all  Indian  Agents,  to  report  to  the  Secretary  of  War, 
each  year,  "an  abstract  of  all  licenses  granted,  showing 
by  and  to  whom,  when  and  where  granted,  with  the 
amount  of  the  bonds  and  capital  employed,  to  be  laid 
before  Congress,  at  the  next  session  thereof."  Prior  to 
the  enactment  of  this  statute  there  was  no  regulation 
requiring  any  report  of  the  licenses  issued. 

The  law  made  it  the  duty  of  the  Indian  Agents  "from 
time  to  time  to  designate  certain  convenient  and  suitable 
places  for  carrying  on  trade  with  the  different  tribes, 
and  to  require  traders  to  transact  their  business  at  the 
places  thus  designated,  and  at  no  other  place  or  places." 
Those  charged  with  the  administration  of  the  law  often 
complained  that  the  Indian  Agents  were  compelled  to 
issue  a  license  to  every  applicant,  and  the  consequence 
was  that  there  were  many  irresponsible  and  dishonest 
traders,  as  any  man  who  was  able  to  give  the  required 
security  could  obtain  a  license  to  trade  for  one  year  with 
the  Indians  at  any  place  so  designated  that  he  chose  to 
name  in  his  application.  He  was  required  to  give  a  bond, 
the  penalty  ranging  upwards  from  one  thousand  dollars, 
conditioned  that  he  would  obey  all  the  laws  and  rules 
regulating  the  trade.  He  was  allowed  to  trade  at  the 
place  chosen  by  himself  and  named  in  the  license,  and 
was  prohibited  from  trading  at  any  other  place  under 
that  license,  but  was  allowed  to  go  to  other  places  solely 
for  the  purpose  of  collecting  what  was  due  him  when  he 
obtained  special  permission  to  do  so. 

He  could  have  as  many  licenses  as  he  chose,  there  being 
instances  in  which  the  records  show  as  many  as  five  li- 
censes issued  to  one  man  in  the  same  year,  and  William 
Burnett,  who  owned  a  house  in  Chicago  as  early  as  1798 
and  was  in  the  Indian  trade  many  years,  writing  to 
Governor  Harrison  of  Indiana  Territory,  September  10. 
1803,  says  that  in  regulating  the  Indian  trade  Harrison 


34  TRADING  LICENSES 

decided  that  one  trader  was  sufficient  for  a  place  produc- 
ing less  than  fifty  packs  of  furs  in  a  year — each  pack 
weighing  from  ninety  to  one  hundred  pounds —  and  that 
"no  man  should  have  more  than  four  licenses,"  but  Har- 
rison disregarded  his  own  regulation  and  issued  twenty 
licenses  to  John  Kinzie  in  1802.  (Hurlbut,  Chicago  An- 
tiquities.) 

Experience  taught  the  trader  that  he  needed  the  serv- 
ices of  three  to  six  men  at  his  post,  and  he  was  allowed 
to  have  them  if  their  names  were  endorsed  on  the  license. 
He  was  required,  before  obtaining  a  license,  to  lay  before 
the  Indian  agent  an  invoice  showing  the  quantity  and 
value  of  the  goods  he  had  for  sale,  and  the  capital  he 
had  invested  in  that  venture. 

The  Indian  agent  had  no  authority  to  issue  a  license  to 
trade  at  any  place  or  with  any  tribe  beyond  his  district, 
but  this  law  was  not  always  respected  by  the  agents. 

For  convenience  of  administration  the  country  was 
divided,  arbitrarily,  into  districts.  Generally,  the  gov- 
ernors of  a  territory  had  charge  of  the  trade  in  that  ter- 
ritory, but  there  were  exceptions.  The  governor  of  Michi- 
gan had  jurisdiction  over  Michigan  and  part  of  Wis- 
consin and  that  part  of  Illinois  north  of  the  Illinois  river 
and  east  of  Bock  river.  General  William  Clark,  who  was 
stationed  at  St.  Louis,  had  jurisdiction  over  the  part  of 
Illinois  and  Wisconsin  west  of  Bock  river. 

The  territory  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Indian 
Agency  at  Chicago  extended  as  far  north  as  Grand  river 
on  the  east  side  of  Lake  Michigan,  as  far  south  of  the  lake 
as  the  Kankakee  river  and  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake 
as  far  north  as  the  "Milwaukee,  including  the  Indians 
on  that  river,  and  to  the  lower  bands  of  the  Pattawata- 
mies  on  Bock  river."  The  Ottawas,  Chippewas  and  Pot- 
awatomies,  always  closely  related,  had  a  joint  interest  in 
a  claim  recognized  by  the  United  States  as  a  just  and 
valid  one  to  northern  Illinois,  and  * '  a  part  of  the  mineral 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  35 

region  on  the  Mississippi,  and  a  considerable 

band  of  them,  *  *  resided  in  Illinois,  and  another 
band  up  the  Bock  River."  (20th  Cong.;  3d  Sess.;  Ho. 
Doc.  117.) 

The  sub-agency  at  Fort  Winnebago  had  control  of  the 
Indians — Winnebagoes  and  Menominees — who  frequent- 
ed that  place  and  those  who  resided  in  that  vicinity.  The 
agency  at  Prairie  du  Chien  had  control  of  the  upper 
Bock  Biver  country,  but  was  not  to  interfere  with  trade  at 
Fort  Winnebago.  The  sub-agency  at  Peoria  included  the 
"Ottawas,  Chippewas  and  Pattawatimas  of  the  Illinois 
living  on  Fox  Biver  and  west  of  it. ' '  The  agency  at  Fort 
Armstrong  controlled  the  Sauks  and  Foxes. 

In  a  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  October  17,  1821, 
Lewis  Cass,  Governor  of  Michigan  Territory  and  Super- 
intendent of  Indian  Affairs  in  that  territory,  speaking  of 
the  conditions  in  Michigan  during  and  the  two  years  fol- 
lowing the  War  of  1812,  says  "During  a  part  of  that 
time  we  had  no  agent  at  Michilimacknac,  Green  Bay, 
Prairie  du  Chien,  St.  Peters,  Bocky  Biver,  Chicago,  Fort 
Wayne  and  Upper  Sandusky."  (Am.  State  Papers;  In- 
dian Affairs,  vol.  2,  p.  314.)  Is  it  justifiable  to  infer  that 
there  was  an  agent  or  trader  at  " Bocky  Biver"  during 
that  war  or  before  it  began? 

That  there  was  a  trading  post  on  Bock  Biver  in  the 
winter  of  1802-1803,  is  shown  by  the  Personal  Narrative 
of  Capt.  Thomas  G.  Anderson,  who  says  he  spent  that 
winter  ''with  the  Winnebagoes  on  Bock  Biver.  They  were 
the  most  filthy,  most  obstinate  and  the  bravest  people  of 
any  Indian  tribe  I  have  met  with.  Here  I  had  a  half-breed 
in  opposition  in  the  trade.  Our  houses  were  about  half  a 
mile  apart,  and  between  us  was  a  very  high  hill,  over 
which  we  had  to  pass  by  a  little  path  through  the  bushes. ' ' 
(Wis.  His.  Coll.  vol.  9,  pp.  137,  152.)  He  does  not  state 
at  what  point  on  the  river  this  post  was  located,  but  as 
he  says  the  hill  was  at  least  three  hundred  feet  above  the 


36  JOHN  CRAFTS 

water  in  the  river  we  know  he  was  not  near  Grand  Detour, 
unless  he  is  in  error  as  to  the  height  of  Castle  Rock. 

John  Kinzie  became  a  resident  of  Chicago  in  1804.  In 
Waiibun,  Mrs.  John  H.  Kinzie,  says  that  he  " later"  es- 
tablished trading  posts  "at  Rock  river  with  the  Winne- 
bagoes  and  the  Pottawatamies, ' '  but  that  leaves  date  and 
place  unknown.  There  is  an  abundance  of  evidence  that 
John  Kinzie  had  been  engaged  in  the  Indian  trade  in 
Michigan  for  several  years  before  locating  at  Chicago, 
but  he  was  then  known  as  McKenzie  as  well  as  Kinzie. 

Gurdon  S.  Hubbard,  who  entered  the  service  of  the 
American  Fur  Company  in  1818,  says  that  company  had 
three  or  four  trading  posts  on  Rock  River  from  1813  to 
1833  (Baldwin,  History  of  La  Salle  County),  but  he  does 
not  name  or  describe  the  exact  locations. 

Speaking  of  John  Crafts,  who  was  the  Chicago  repre- 
sentative of  Mack  &  Conant  of  Detroit,  Hubbard  said  he 
"had,  up  to  1819,  full  control  of  this  section,  without 
opposition  from  the  American  Fur  Company,  sending 
outfits  to  Rock  river  and  other  points  within  a  range 
say  of  a  hundred  miles  of  Chicago."  (Hurlbut,  Chicago 
Antiquities.} 

In  his  introduction  to  " Altowan,  or  Incidents  of  Life 
and  Adventure  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,"  James  Watson 
Webb  gives  a  thrilling  account  of  the  night  he  passed  in 
La  Sallier's  cabin,  on  Franklin  Creek,  about  thirty-five 
rods  from  Rock  River,  in  February,  1822,  and  it  shows 
there  was  a  trader  there  then  who  lived  in  a  cabin  so 
old  that  in  1835  it  was  nothing  but  a  mass  of  rotten  logs. 
It  is  self-evident  there  was  no  reason  for  the  existence 
of  a  house  there  in  that  period,  unless  it  was  for  the  com- 
fort and  convenience  of  one  engaged  in  the  fur  trade. 

Writing  from  Michilimackinac  on  August  26,  1824,  to 
Alexander  Wolcott,  Indian  Agent  at  Chicago,  Robert 
Stuart,  the  manager  of  the  American  Fur  Company,  says : 
"I  have  just  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Crafts  wherein 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  37 

he  states  that  you  had  designated  Chicago,  St.  Joseph, 
Milwalka  and  Rock  River  as  the  places  you  consider  most 
proper  to  be  established  for  Indian  trade  within  your 
district,  and  that  you  will  grant  him  no  licenses  for  any 
other  posts."  (Am.  Fur  Co.  Letter  Book,  in  Chi.  His. 
Soc.  Library.  Crafts  was  then  that  company's  repre- 
sentative in  Chicago.) 

The  Report  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  December,  1823, 
has  an  abstract  of  all  licenses  to  trade  with  the  Indians 
that  were  issued  in  1821,  1822,  and  up  to  the  first  of  Sep- 
tember, 1823,  and  it  shows  that  on  October  13, 1821,  Alex- 
ander Wolcott,  Jr.,  Indian  Agent  at  Chicago,  gave  a  li- 
cense to  Maurice  Lauzon  to  trade  one  year  on  "Rock 
river, ' '  with  nothing  to  show  the  particular  place  on  that 
river,  and  it  does  not  state  the  amount  of  capital  Lauzon 
employed  in  that  venture.  The  report  does  not  show 
that  any  license  to  trade  on  Rock  river  was  issued  in 
1822  or  that  part  of  1823  covered  by  the  report.  ( 18th 
Cong.;  1st  8 ess.;  Ho.  Doc.  7.) 

The  Report  made  by  the  Secretary  of  War  in  January, 
1825,  shows  that  on  October  20,  1823,  Wolcott  gave  a 
license  to  Stephen  Mack,  Jr.,  to  trade  on  "Rock  river," 
with  a  capital  of  two  thousand  dollars.  (18th  Cong.;  2d 
Sess.;  Ho.  Doc.  54.)  While  this  does  not  show  the  par- 
ticular place  Mack  was  authorized  to  trade,  it  would  seem 
but  fair  to  say  he  was  at  Grand  Detour,  because  he  was 
there  other  years  and  his  family  bible  says  he  bought  the 
cabin  in  which  La  Sallier  had  lived  in  1822. 

In  his  testimony  before  the  commissioners  appointed, 
under  the  treaty  of  November,  1837,  to  adjust  the  claims 
against  the  Winnebagoes,  John  H.  Kinzie  said  that  the 
fur  trade  along  Rock  River,  in  1823-4,  was  good,  there 
being  many  muskrats  there  at  that  time  and  the  price 
being  good. 

Wolcott,  on  September  6,  1824,  issued  a  license  to 
Stephen  Mack,  Jr.,  to  trade  one  year  on  Rock  river,  with 


38  TRADERS  AT  GRAND  DETOUR 

a  capital  of  one  thousand  dollars;  and  on  October  23, 
1824,  he  issued  a  license  to  Cole  Weeks  to  trade  one  year 
on  "Rocky  river,"  with  a  capital  of  fifteen  hundred  dol- 
lars. (19th  Cong.;  1st  Sess.;  Ho.  Doc.  118.) 

Lewis  Cass,  Governor  of  Michigan  and  Superintendent 
of  Indian  Affairs,  on  August  17,  1825,  issued  a  license  to 
Bernard  Laughton  to  trade  one  year  at  "Grand  Detour, 
on  Rocky  River, ' '  with  a  capital  of  five  hundred  dollars ; 
and  Wolcott,  September  27,  1825,  issued  a  license  to 
Laughton  to  trade  one  year  on  "Rocky  River,"  with  a 
capital  of  twenty-five  hundred  dollars.  (19th  Cong.;  2d 
Sess.;  Ho.  Doc.  86.) 

By  this  time  it  had  become  quite  generally  known  that 
Grand  Detour  was  a  very  good  place  for  the  fur  trader, 
and  the  Report  made  by  the  Secretary  of  War  in  Febru- 
ary, 1828,  shows  that  on  September  1,  1826,  Governor 
Cass  issued  a  license  to  Morice  Lozon  to  trade  one  year 
at  "Grand  Detour,  on  Rocky  River"  with  a  capital  of 
five  hundred  dollars ;  that  on  October  13,  1826,  Henry  B. 
Brevoort,  Indian  Agent  at  Green  Bay,  issued  a  license 
to  Bernard  Grignon  to  trade  one  year  at  ' '  Grand  Detour 
on  Rock  river"  with  a  capital  of  seven  hundred  fifty  dol- 
lars and  sixty-three  cents ;  and  on  the  next  day  he  issued 
a  license  to  Perish  Grignon  and  S.  Chapua  to  trade  one 
year  at  * '  Grand  Detour  on  Rock  river  and  Cheboiegon  of 
Lake  Michigan, ' '  with  a  capital  of  twelve  hundred  thirty 
dollars  and  thirty-one  cents;  that  on  October  5,  1826, 
Wolcott  issued  to  Stephen  Mack  a  license  to  trade  one 
year  on  "Rocky  River,"  with  a  capital  of  twenty-five 
hundred  dollars;  and  on  the  next  day  he  issued  a  license 
to  Archibald  Clybourn  to  trade  one  year  on  "Rocky 
River,"  with  a  capital  of  twenty-five  hundred  dollars; 
and  on  October  17,  1826,  he  issued  a  license  to  George 
Hunt  to  trade  one  year  on  * '  Rocky  River, ' '  with  a  capital 
of  thirty -five  hundred  dollars ;  that  on  November  2,  1826, 
Brevoort  issued  a  license  to  H.  B.  McGulpin  to  trade 
one  year  at ' '  Foil  du  Lac  and  Grand  Detour, ' '  with  a  cap- 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  39 

ital  of  seven  hundred  ninety-two  dollars  and  fourteen 
cents.     (20th  Cong.;  1st  Sess.;  Ho.  Doc.  140.) 

The  Secretary  of  War  reported,  in  February,  1829,  an 
abstract  of  the  licenses  to  trade  with  the  Indians  that  had 
been  issued  since  September  1,  1827,  but  it  does  not  show 
that  any  license  to  trade  at  Grand  Detour  or  on  Rock 
river  above  Prophetstown  had  been  issued  since  that 
day.    Nor  is  any  mention  of  the  issue  of  a  license  to  trade 
there  made  in  his  subsequent  reports,  so  it  is  fair  to  con- 
clude none  were  issued  since  November,  1826,  although 
he  did  report,  February,  1829,  that  "the  following  are 
the  trading  posts  now  established  *        *  Chicago  * 
Fever  river  *        *  Forks   of  the   river  Iroquois  * 
Grand  Detour  on  Rocky  river  *        *  Rock  river  * 
among  the  Winnebagoes  fifty  miles  from  the  mouth  of 
Rock  river."    (20th  Cong.;  2nd  Sess.;  Ho.  Doc.  117.) 

Mrs.  Kinzie  tells  us,  in  Wcuubun,  that  after  they  left 
Dixon,  on  their  journey  from  Fort  Winnebago  to  Chi- 
cago, in  1831,  their  guide  lost  the  way  and  led  them  along 
a  trail  that  ".brought  us  to  the  great  bend  of  the  river 
with  its  bold  rocky  bluff,"  and  it  is  common  knowledge 
that  every  Indian  trail  led  to  an  Indian  village. 

It  is  incomprehensible  that  so  many  men  would,  of 
their  own  volition,  choose  Grand  Detour  as  the  site  of 
their  trading  posts,  unless  there  were  Indians  there  with 
whom  they  could  trade. 

We  know,  from  the  great  number  of  arrow  heads, 
flints  and  other  things  evidencing  the  prior  existence  of 
an  Indian  village,  that  have  been  found  north  of  Rock 
River,  and  a  little  west  of  the  road  leading  to  the  bridge 
at  Grand  Detour,  that  there  once  was  an  Indian  village 
across  the  river  from  the  bold  rocky  bluff  Mrs.  Kinzie 
mentions. 


JOSEPH  OGEE  AND  HIS  FERRY. 

It  is  quite  common  knowledge  in  Dixon  that  its  first 
permanent  white  inhabitant  was  Joseph  Ogee.  Very  lit- 
tle is  known  of  him,  and  that  is  so  scattered  it  may  be  well 
to  gather  the  fragments  and  present  them  so  that  they 
may  be  found  easily. 

Dr.  Oliver  Everett,  who  lived  in  Dixon  for  a  period  of 
more  than  fifty  years,  beginning  in  September,  1836,  told 
the  writer  hereof  that  the  name  Ogee  was  pronounced  as 
if  spelled  Ozhya,  though  Judge  McCulloch,  in  his  History 
of  Peoria  County,  says  the  name  is  said  to  be  Ozier  and 
Ogee  but  a  nickname.  In  Waubun,  Mrs.  Kinzie  calls  him 
' '  Ogie. ' '  That  Ogee  is  the  correct  spelling  will  be  shown 
later. 

Ogee  represented  the  American  Fur  Company  at  Pe- 
oria as  early  as  1818  (McCulloch,  History  of  Peoria 
County),  and  at  a  later  day  he  also  had  charge  of  its  trad- 
ing station  where  Wesley  City,  Tazewell  county,  now 
stands. 

Ethelbert  Stewart,  of  the  United  States  Department 
of  Labor,  in  his  "Feiv  notes  for  an  Industrial  History  of 
Illinois,"  says  that  the  pay  rolls  of  the  American  Fur 
Company  show  that  the  company  paid  its  " trader"  in 
Illinois  three  thousand  dollars  per  year  because  of  the 
fierce  competition  in  that  territory.  This  indicates  that 
Ogee  was  a  man  of  greater  ability  that  the  term  "half- 
breed"  would  imply,  and  that  the  company  considered 
him  to  be  a  valuable  man.  (Publications  Illinois  State 
Historical  Society,  no.  8,  p.  119.)  Stewart's  statement  is 
fully  sustained  by  the  books  of  the  Fur  Company. 

He  was  living  in  Fulton  county  when  that  county  and 
its  attached  territory  included  all  the  state  that  was  east 
of  the  fourth  principal  meridian  and  north  of  the  Illinois 
and  Kankakee  rivers,  and  the  county  commissioners  of 
that  county,  June  4,  1823,  ordered 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  41 

"that  Joseph  Ogee  have  License  to  keep  an  Inn  or 
Tavern  in  the  house  where  he  now  resides  at  the  Vil- 
lage of  Peoria  in  Said  County,  by  paying  the  Sum  of 
Ten  Dollars  in  State  papers. 

1 1  By  motion  it  was  ordered  the  following  be  the  list 
of  Tavern  Bates  for  said  Tavern,  towit : 

Victuals,  pr  meal $  .25 

Horsekeeping,  pr  night , 

Lodgeing  pr.  night 
Whiskey  pr.  half  pint 

Bum  &  Gin  pr.  half  pint 25 

French  Brandy  Do 50 

Wine  pr.  half  pint 37| 

and  all  other  Liquors  be  in  proportion." 

He  was  summoned  to  serve  on  the  grand  jury  at  a  term 
of  the  circuit  court  of  Fulton  county  to  be  held  in  Octo- 
ber, 1823,  but,  for  some  reason  now  unknown,  that  term 
of  court  was  not  held. 

Peoria  county  was  created  by  an  act  approved  Janu- 
ary 13,  1825,  and  given  its  present  area  (except  a 
small  fragment  taken  from  Fulton  in  exchange,  to  cure 
a  blunder  in  surveying),  and  there  was  attached  to  it  all 
the  state  north  of  it  and  the  Illinois  and  Kankakee  rivers 
and  some  territory  east  of  the  Illinois.  The  first  meeting 
of  the  county  commissioners '  court  of  the  new  county  was 
held  in  March,  1825,  in  Ogee's  house  at  Peoria  which, 
Judge  McCulloch  says,  was  made  of  hewn  logs  and  was 
the  best  in  the  town.  The  first  term  of  the  circuit  court 
held  in  the  county  was  held  in  this  house  in  November, 
1825,  with  John  York  Sawyer  as  judge  and  John  Dixon 
as  clerk.  It  was  at  this  term  of  court  that  the  Indian 
Nomaque  was  indicted,  tried  and  convicted  upon  a  charge 
of  murder,  and  sentenced  to  death.  Ogee  acted  as  inter- 
preter at  that  trial  and  served  as  petit  juror  for  that 
term,  and  he  and  one  Jacob  Frank  were  indicted  then  for 
an  affray.  At  that  trial  Nomaque,  it  is  said,  was  de- 
fended by  William  S.  Hamilton,  the  life  time  friend  of 


42  OGEE'S    ASSESSMENT 

Mr.  Dixon.  A  new  trial  was  granted  by  the  Supreme 
Court,  and  ultimately,  Nomaque  went  without  punish- 
ment. 

A  methodist  church  was  organized  in  Peoria  in  1824, 
and  Mrs.  Ogee  became  a  member  of  it  the  following  win- 
ter. Ogee  was  a  patron  of  Peoria 's  first  school  upon  its 
establishment  in  1826,  its  sole  support  being  subscrip- 
tions by  its  patrons.  After  its  first  week,  the  school  was 
taught  in  his  log  cabin. 

In  July,  1826,  Ogee  was  allowed  and  paid  three  dollars 
by  the  county  commissioners'  court  for  the  use  of  his 
house  by  the  circuit  court  and  one  dollar  for  its  use  by 
the  county  commissioners '  court.  That  same  month, 
when  the  county  sold  the  land  it  had  caused  to  be  subdi- 
vided, he  bought  two  lots  in  that  subdivision,  the  town  of 
Peoria,  for  $96.25. 

An  assessment  of  two  hundred  dollars  was  made 
against  his  personal  property  in  1825,  but  it  was  located 
in  the  "Illinois  prairie,"  which  was  the  local  name  given 
the  attached  territory  east  of  the  Illinois.  The  assessor 
was  the  same  John  L.  Bogardus  who  built  a  shanty  at 
Dixon  in  1827,  and  whose  partially  built  ferry  boat  was 
burned  by  the  Indians  that  summer.  (Kett,  History  of 
Ogle  County.)  It  is  quite  probable  that  the  property  so 
assessed  belonged  to  the  Fur  Company,  as  its  property 
in  Chicago  was  assessed  in  the  name  of  its  agent  there. 

In  his  History  of  Ogle  County,  p.  50,  Boss  quotes  the 
following  from  a  letter  written  by  Judge  Joseph  Gillespie 
of  Edwardsville : 

"It  was  about  the  5th  day  of  March,  1827,  that 
thirteen  of  us  who  had  met  together  at  different 
places  and  formed  a  traveling  company  for  the  lead 
mines,  reached  the  banks  of  Rock  River  at  the  point 
where,  according  to  my  recollection,  Dixon  now 
stands.  It  was  naked  prairie  on  the  south  side,  but 
there  was  excellent  hickory  timber  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river.  A  band  of  Winnebagoes  were  en- 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  43 

camped  on  the  south  side.  It  became  necessary  for 
a  portion  of  our  party  to  cross  the  river  and  prepare 
our  encampment,  and  make  fires  in  advance  of  the 
rest,  and  a  Mr.  Reed,  my  brother  and  myself  were 
selected  for  that  purpose.  We  had  previously  bar- 
gained with  the  Indians  for  the  use  of  their  canoes  to 
ferry  us  and  our  wagon  over,  and  had  given  a  large 
amount  of  bacon  and  corn  meal  in  payment.  The 
Indians,  without  any  reluctakice,  took  R«ed,  my 
brother  and  myself  across  the  river  with  our  oxen, 
and  as  soon  as  we  were  separated  from  our  compan- 
ions, they  started  down  the  river  with  their  canoes. 
This  operation  was  likely  to  be  attended  with  much 
inconvenience,  and  some  suffering  and  exposure  to 
us  who  had  crossed  the  river  and  were  without  pro- 
visions or  bed-clothes.  Our  friends  followed  down 
after  the  Indians,  who  pretended  that  they  under- 
stood the  contract  on  their  part  to  have  been  fulfilled. 
We  knew  that  they  were  endeavoring  to  fleece  us. 
It  was  found  impossible  to  bring  them  to  agree  to  our 
understanding  of  the  bargain,  and  nothing  was  left 
for  our  side  but  to  make  the  best  terms  we  could. 
They  would  not  agree  on  any  condition  we  could  pro- 
pose, to  ferry  our  wagon  over,  pretending  to  believe 
it  would  sink  their  canoes.  There  was  in  our  com- 
pany a  negro,  named  Frank,  from  Kaskasia,  who  had 
joined  us  when  the  company  consisted  of  but  four 
persons — old  Mr.  Reed,  his  son,  my  brother  and  my- 
self; the  rest  of  the  company  we  picked  up  after- 
wards. We  rather  took  care  of  Frank,  and  protected 
him  when  attempts  were  made  to  impose  upon  him, 
for  which  he  was  very  grateful.  Frank  was  in  great 
distress  when  he  found  that  three  of  his  friends  were 
separated  from  the  company,  and  were  without  food 
or  bed-clothes.  He  had  a  black  overcoat,  the  body  of 
which  was  about  of  the  texture  of  an  old  sleazy 
blanket,  but  the  capes  were  really  of  first  rate  ma- 
terial, and  were  fastened  to  the  body  with  hooks  and 
eyes.  One  of  the  Indians  took  a  great  liking  to 
Frank's  coat,  and  a  bargain  was  struck  on  about 
these  terms :  Frank  was  to  give  the  Indian  his  coat 
and  they  were  to  allow  him  to  bring  us  over  bed- 
clothing  and  food,  and  also  to  ferry  the  wagon  over 


44  WILLIAM    THOMAS 

the  next  morning,  upon  terms  to  be  agreed  on.  Frank 
rolled  up  an  auger  in  the  blanket  to  enable  us  to 
build  a  raft  in  case  it  should  become  necessary,  but 
the  Indians  were  too  sharp  for  that.  They  unrolled 
the  blanket  and  contended  that  taking  over  an  auger 
was  not  in  the  bargain,  and  so  Frank  came  over  with- 
out it.  When  they  arrived  a  great  controversy  arose 
between  him  and  the  Indians.  Frank  contended  that 
he  was  to  give  only  his  coat,  and  they  contended  that 
he  was  to  give  the  cape  also.  We  had  by  this  time 
become  so  incensed  at  the  Indians  that  we  felt  very 
little  like  obeying  the  scriptural  requirement — 'If 
any  man  will  sue  thee  at  the  law  and  take  away  thy 
coat,  let  him  have  thy  cloak  also.'  So  we  decided 
in  Frank's  favor,  and  he  kept  his  capes.  The  Indians 
were  very  indignant  at  Frank's  strict  construction, 
and  we  might  have  had  trouble  with  them;  but  that 
night  it  turned  intensely  cold,  and  by  the  next  morn- 
ing the  Indians  were  as  torpid  as  snakes  in  winter. 
They  could  not  get  out  of  their  wigwams,  and  our 
men  helped  themselves  to  the  canoes,  and  everything 
was  pushed  across  early  in  the  day.  Lest 

what  I  have  stated  might  lead  persons  to  believe 
that  all  the  Indians  were  thus  knavishly  inclined,  I 
would  remark  that  in  crossing  the  Winnebago 
swamps,  some  ten  or  fifteen  miles  south  of  Kock 
River,  we  had  great  difficulty,  and  would  have  had 
more  but  for  some  Winnebago  Indians  who  were  en- 
camped by  the  swamps,  and  who  were  exceedingly 
kind  and  generous  to  us,  and  rendered  us  every  as- 
sistance in  their  power." 

In  his  "Recollections  of  Early  Illinois/'  delivered  be- 
fore the  Chicago  Historical  Society,  March  16,  1880, 
Judge  Gillespie,  speaking  of  the  trip  just  mentioned,  says 
they  crossed  Rock  river  at  Dixon. 

When  Governor  Edwards  issued  his  call  for  volunteers 
for  the  Winnebago  War  in  1827,  one  of  the  first  to  offer 
his  services  was  William  Thomas  of  Jacksonville,  for 
many  years  thereafter  honored  and  revered  by  the  people 
of  Illinois.  The  command  of  which  he  was  a  member 
marched  to  Gratiot's  Grove.  Speaking  of  this,  in  an  ar- 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  45 

ticle  published  first  in  the  Jacksonville  Journal  of  Au- 
gust 21,  1871,  and  later  in  the  Publications  of  the  Illinois 
State  Historical  Society,  no.  12,  p.  265,  Thomas  says : 

' '  The  heavy  rains  had  extended  to  Rock  river,  and 
the  prairies  were  so  saturated  with  water  that  we 
could  travel  only  in  a  walk,  our  horses  onbreaking 
the  sod  at  every  step.  Following  a  trail  made  by  the 
Indians  and  persons  going  to  the  lead  mines,  on  the 
fifth  day  from  Pepria  we  reached  Rock  river  at  Dix- 
on's  Ferry.  During  the  march  we  had  to  drink  the 
water  standing  in  swamps,  pools  and  holes  in  the 
prairie.  Upon  reaching  Rock  river,  seeing  that  it 
was  a  beautiful  clear  stream  with  gentle  current,  we 
expected  a  good  drink  of  water,  but,  to  our  sur- 
prise, we  found  that  no  better  than  the  water  of  the 
swamps  through  which  we  had  passed.  Dozens  were 
made  sick  by  swallowing  the  water  before  testing  it. 
We  forded  the  river  in  the  afternoon  on  a  Sunday, 
those  riding  small  horses  swimming,  and  encamped 
on  the  bank  until  next  day. ' ' 

He  does  not  give  any  information  as  to  the  day  or 
month  he  crossed  Rock  river.  As  the  call  for  volunteers 
was  issued  in  the  middle  of  July  it  is  probable  that  he 
reached  the  river  some  time  in  August.  Of  course  that 
place  was  not  then  known  as  Dixon  's  Ferry,  as  there  was 
no  ferry  of  any  kind  there  then. 

In  his  "Early  Times  at  Dixon' s  Ferry,"  published  in 
Kurtz's  History  of  Dixon  and  Palmyra,  John  K.  Rob- 
inson says : — 

"The  method  of  crossing  the  river  with  teams  be- 
fore the  establishment  of  a  ferry  was  primitive  and 
simple.  On  arriving  at  the  place  of  crossing,  the 
wagons  were  unloaded  and  the  loads  carried  over 
in  canoes  by  the  Indians,  the  wagon  was  then  driven 
with  the  side  to  the  stream,  two  wheels  lifted  into 
a  canoe  then  shoved  a  little  out  into  the  river,  and 
another  canoe  received  the  other  wheels,  when  the 
double  boat  was  paddled  or  poled  to  the  other  side; 
the  horses  were  taken  by  the  bridle  and  made  to  swim 
by  the  side  of  the  canoe,  cattle  swam  loose ;  then  com- 


46  THE  BOGARDUS  FERRY 

menced  the  lifting  out  of  the  wagons  and  reloading, 
and  the  journey  was  renewed,  all  hands  happy  that 
the  task  of  crossing  the  river  was  completed.  Once 
James  P.  Dixon,  well  acquainted  with  the  hardships 
of  crossing,  arriving  on  the  banks  of  the  river  with 
the  mail  wagon,  called  for  the  Indians  for  their  as- 
sistance but  received  no  answer ;  vexed  at  their  delay 
and  their  arrogance  when  they  did  assist,  he  boldly 
unchecked  his  horses,  so  as  to  give  them  a  chance 
to  swim,  and  crossed  the  river  with  the  mail  and 
wagon  in  safety. ' ' 

Speaking  of  the  travel  at  this  place,  Kett's  History  of 
Ogle  County,  p.  266,  says : 

1  'In  the  winter  time  there  was  but  very  little 
travel,  probably  from  the  fact  that  there  was  but  lit- 
tle or  nothing  doing  in  the  mines,  and  may  be  be- 
cause of  the  exposure  necessarily  incident  to  the 
trip.  In  March,  1827,  however,  a  heavy  tide  of  travel 
set  in  from  Fort  Clark,  and  other  parts  of  the  state 
below  there. 

"Among  the  first  to  come  up  that  season  and  cross 
Rock  River  at  the  Boles  trail  (now  Dixon)  was  Elisha 
Doty,  who  subsequently  settled  at  Polo.  When  he 
arrived  at  the  river  it  was  still  covered  with  ice,  over 
which  he  essayed  to  cross,  but  before  he  had  pro- 
ceeded far  the  ice  began  to  give  way,  and  he  was 
obliged  to  abandon  the  attempt.  'While  waiting  on 
the  bank'  (says  Boss'  Sketches  of  the  History  of  Ogle 
County,  published  in  1859),  'just  before  starting  on 
his  return,  about  two  hundred  teams  collected  there, 
all  on  their  way  to  Galena.' 

"In  1827  Dixon  had  become  a  fixed  place  for  trav- 
elers to  cross  the  river,  but  crossing  was  often  at- 
tended with  a  great  deal  of  inconvenience,  as  up  to 
this  time,  and  until  1828,  there  was  no  ferry  other 
than  the  kind  of  canoe  ferry  already  described,  and 
the  Indians  were  not  always  present  and  in  readiness 
with  their  canoes.  When  the  water  was  low,  the 
river  could  be  forded  without  difficulty,  but  this  was 
not  always  the  case.  The  establishment  of  a  ferry  at 
that  point  was  first  undertaken  by  a  man  named  J.  L. 
Begordis  (Bogardus),  of  Peoria,  who  sent  a  man  up 


47 

in  the  early  summer  of  1827  to  build  a  shanty  8  by  10, 
on  the  bank,  and  to  live  there  and  'hold  the  fort',  or 
ferry,  until  Begordis  (Bogardus)  could  find  and  for- 
ward the  necessary  workmen,  carpenters,  etc.,  to  build 
the  ferry  boat.  Soon  after  the  shanty  was  completed, 
Mr.  Doty  (the  father  of  Elisha  Doty  already  men- 
tioned), a  carpenter,  came  and  work  on  the  boat  was 
commenced  and  vigorously  prosecuted.  When  the 
boat  was  about  half  completed,  the  Indians  set  fire  to 
it,  and  informed  its  builders  that  they  should  not 
build  a  boat  there,  and  told  them  to  'go  to  Peoria,' 
Doty  and  his  assistant  did  not  stand  upon  the  order 
of  their  going,  but  went  at  once,  for  the  command  was 
imperative,  if  not  threatening.  In  the  spring  of 
1828,  Joe  Ogee,  a  Frenchman  and  an  Indian  inter- 
preter, whose  wife  was  a  Pottawattomie  woman, 
settled  there,  built  a  house  and  established  a  ferry." 

"The  (Ogee)  ferry  boat  was  propelled  by  the  old  fash- 
ioned 'setting  pole,'  '  and  landed  at  any  convenient 
point.  It  was  not  until  1835  that  the  rope  ferry  was 
installed.  That  ferry  was  at  Galena  avenue.  (Kurtz, 
History  of  Dixon  and  Palmyra.) 

John  K.  Robinson,  who  taught  the  children  of  Father 
Dixon  in  the  winter  of  1833- '34,  says  that  Ogee  built  his 
cabin  and  established  his  ferry  where  Dixon  stands  in 
the  spring  of  1828.  Boss,  in  his  history  of  Ogle  County, 
published  in  1859,  and  Frank  Kurtz,  who  compiled  the 
History  of  Dixon  and  Palymra  that  was  published  in 
1880,  say  the  ferry  was  established  in  1828.  Rufus 
Blanchard,  in  his  Historical  Map  of  Illinois,  published  in 
1883,  says  it  was  established  in  1825,  but  he  is  wrong. 

It  has  been  stated  many  times  that  John  Dixon  induced 
Ogee  to  establish  the  ferry,  or  that  he  took  Ogee  with  him 
when  he  moved  from  Peoria,  and  some  have  said  that  Mr. 
Dixon  really  established  the  ferry  and  put  Ogee  in  charge 
of  it.  All  these  statements  are  erroneous. 

In  the  History  of  Dixon  and  Lee  County  compiled  by 
Frank  Kurtz,  and  published  in  1880,  it  is  said  that  "Jo- 


48  JOHN  DIXON  AT  BOYD'S  GROVE 

seph  Ogee  was  induced  to  come  here  (Dixon)  and  estab- 
lish a  ferry  by  Father  Dixon,  who  at  the  time  was  Gov- 
ernment mail  contractor  between  Galena  and  Peoria." 
Kurtz  reprints  the  article  on  Mr.  Dixon  that  appeared  in 
the  Dixon  Telegraph,  July,  1876,  which  says — "while  Mr. 
Dixon  was  at  Peoria,  the  Government  established  a  mail 
route  from  Peoria  to  Galena,  crossing  Bock  River  at  the 
present  site  of  our  city  *  *  *  mail  to  be  carried  once 
in  two  weeks  on  horse  back.  Mr.  Dixon  threw  in  a  bid 
for  the  contract  which  was  accepted.  *  *  *  he  in- 
duced *  Ogee  *  *  *  to  establish  a  ferry  at 
the  point  of  crossing  the  river." 

The  History  of  Lee  County  published  by  H.  H.  Hill  & 
Co.,  in  1881,  says  "Mr.  Dixon  had  induced  Ogee  to  build 
the  ferry  to  accommodate  the  United  States  mail  which 
he  was  carrying  from  Peoria  to  Galena." 

In  Bardwell's  History  of  Lee  County  it  is  said  that  in 
1828  ' '  John  Dixon  had,  at  this  time,  a  contract  for  carry- 
ing the  mail  between  Galena  and  Peoria,  and  induced 
Ogee  to  establish  the  ferry  here  (Dixon)  on  the  mail 
route." 

In  his  "Black  Hawk  War,"  Stevens  says  "in  1828, 
when  Father  Dixon  received  the  contract  for  carrying 
the  mails  from  Peoria  to  Galena  and  Gratiot's  Grove  he 
took  with  him  a  half  breed  named  Joseph  Ogee,  who  es- 
tablished a  permanent,  though  unlicensed  ferry." 

Mr.  Dixon  did  not  move  to  Bock  river  from  Peoria. 
On  the  contrary,  he  moved  from  Peoria  to  what  is  known 
as  Boyd's  Grove,  in  the  present  town  of  Milo,  Bureau 
County,  in  the  spring  of  1828. 

John  K.  Bobinson  says,  "Father  Dixon 's  object  for 
changing  his  home  from  Boyd's  Grove,  where  he  had  a 
short  time  before  taken  up  his  abode,  was  to  occupy  a 
more  central  position  for  his  mail  contract." 

In  his  Reminiscences  of  Bureau  County,  published  in 
1872,  Nehemiah  Matson  says  that  when  the  Ament  broth- 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  49 

ers  passed  Boyd's  Grove  in  the  spring  of  1828,  in  their 
search  for  a  desirable  location,  they  found  John  Dixon 
building  a  cabin  in  which  he  and  his  family  lived  until 
1830,  when  he  sold  it  to  his  brother-in-law  Charles  S. 
Boyd. 

In  his  History  of  Bureau  County,  1885,  Bradsby  says, 
"In  the  year  1828  there  were  five  families  in  Bureau 
County,  coming  here  in  the  order  named :  Bulbona,  John 
Dixon,  Henry  Thomas,  Reason  B.  Hall  and  John  and 
Justus  Ament,"  and  that,  except  Bulbona  (the  name 
really  was  Bourbonnais),  a  French  Canadian  Indian 
trader,  Dixon 's  settlement  "was  the  first  real  settlement 
in  what  is  now  Bureau  County.  Dixon  lived  at  the  grove 
until  1830,  when  he  sold  his  improvement  to  Charles  S. 
Boyd  and  removed  to  Dixon. ' ' 

A  reading  of  Bradsby 's  book  convinces  one  that  he  re- 
lied, for  his  information  on  this  point,  upon  statements 
made  by  Alexander  S.  Boyd,  a  son  of  Charles  S.  Boyd, 
and  that  makes  it  the  best  evidence  now  obtainable  on 
the  subject,  and  it  proves  that  Mr.  Dixon  did  not  move 
to  Rock  river  from  Peoria. 

Kett's  History  of  Jo  Daviess  County  contains  a  letter 
written  December  7,  1827,  by  Dr.  Horatio  Newhall,  who 
settled  in  Galena  that  year,  saying,  "We  have  no  mail  as 
yet,  but  shall  have  a  mail  once  in  two  weeks  to  commence 
the  1st  of  January  next. ' ' 

Postmaster  General  John  McLean,  in  April,  1828, 
transmitted  to  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives a  statement  of  the  contracts  made  the  preceding 
year  for  carrying  the  mails  in  Illinois,  and  this  shows 
that  the  contract  for  carrying  the  mail  from  "Peoria  to 
Galena"  for  a  term  beginning  January  1,  1828,  and  end- 
ing December  31,  1829,  was  let  to  E.  B.  Clemson,  the  con- 
sideration being  $580  each  year.  This  statement  shows 
that  Clemson  also  had  the  contracts,  for  the  same  period, 
for  carrying  the  mails  between  Kaskaskia  and  Vandalia ; 


50  GALENA  AND  ST.  LOUIS  STAGE  LINE 

Carlisle  and  Shawneetown;  Salem  and  Cole's  Grove; 
Springfield  and  Peoria;  Springfield  and  Lewistown; 
Jacksonville  and  Eushville.  (20th  Cong.  1st  8 ess.;  Ho. 
Doc.  258.) 

In  1828  only  three  contracts  were  made  for  carrying 
the  mail  in  Illinois, — Moore's  Prairie  to  New  Harmony; 
Paris  to  Vandalia,  and  Danville  to  Fort  Clark,  the  last 
being  let  to  E.  B.  Clemson.  Each  contract  was  for  a  term 
of  one  year,  beginning  January  first,  1829.  (Letter  of 
Post  Master  General  John  McLean;  20th  Cong.;  2d  Sess.; 
Ho.  Doc.  135.) 

In  the  Miners'  Journal  (Galena),  beginning  December 
6,  1828,  and  running  to  April  11,  1829,  appears  this  ad- 
vertisement : 

"The  U.  S.  Mail  Stage  from  Galena  to  St.  Louis 
will  hereafter  leave  Galena  every  Monday  and  St. 
Louis  every  Friday.  Fare,  $8  from  Galena  to  Peoria ; 
$3  from  Peoria  to  Springfield;  $4  from  Springfield 
to  St.  Louis. 

John  Dixon,  Proprietor  of  the  line  from  Galena 
to  Springfield. ' ' 

The  Miners'  Journal  of  February  7,  1829,  says  that 
the  mail  contractor,  whose  name  is  not  given  in  that  ar- 
ticle, has  informed  the  postmaster  that  he  had  seen  it 
stated  in  some  newspaper  that  a  weekly  route  was  estab- 
lished, and,  presuming  that  he  would  shortly  receive  no- 
tice to  that  effect  from  the  Postmaster  General,  made 
preparations  accordingly,  "and  has  been  carrying  a 
weekly  mail,  regularly,  since  the  15th  of  October.  In 
December  last  he  was  informed  by  the  Post  Master  here 
that  the  department  could  not  pay  for  carrying  a  weekly 
mail  'under  present  circumstances,  as  the  cost'  would  be 
$1,160, ' '  and  the  contractor  replied  that  he  would  continue 
the  weekly  service,  hoping  he  would  be  allowed  adequate 
compensation  for  his  services. 

Another  article  in  the  same  issue  of  the  Journal  speaks 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  51 

of  "Mr.  Dixon,  the  Mail  Contractor,  for  carrying  the 
same  between  this  place  and  Peoria." 

The  Journal  of  March  21,  1829,  says  that  "Mr.  Dixon, 
the  proprietor  of  the  Mail  Stage, ' '  which  has  run  between 
Galena  and  Peoria  advises  the  postmaster  that  "owing 
to  the  badness  of  the  roads ' '  the  stage  will  not  run  again 
until  further  notice,  but  the  mail  will  be  carried  weekly 
"by  two  riders,  at  an  additional  expense  to  that  which 
is  already  exorbitant." 

There  is  still  in  existence  a  statement  signed  January 
23,  1830,  by  E.  B.  Clemson,  of  the  account  between  him- 
self and  John  Dixon  which  shows  that  Dixon  carried  the 
mail  from  Peoria  to  Galena  during  the  quarter  year  end- 
ing September  30, 1829,  and  for  that  service  Clemson  paid 
him  $225. 

In  the  Miners'  Journal  of  August  15,  1829,  Post  Mas- 
ter General  William  Barry  calls  for  bids,  to  be  opened 
October  10th,  for  carrying  the  mail  from  Peoria,  by  way 
of  Gratiot's  Grove,  to  Galena  weekly,  leaving  Peoria 
Thursday  at  6  a.  m.,  arriving  at  Galena  Saturday  by  8 
p.  m. ;  leaving  Galena  Monday  6  a.  m.,  arriving  at  Peoria 
Wednesday  by  7  p.  m. ;  service  to  begin  the  first  of  Jan- 
uary and  the  contract  to  run  for  four  years. 

In  a  letter  addressed  to  the  House  of  Representatives, 
March,  1830,  Post  Master  General  Barry  transmits  a  list 
of  the  contracts  let  the  proceeding  year  for  carrying  mail 
in  Illinois,  saying  that  the  letting  of  the  contracts  was 
advertised  in  June,  1829;  the  contracts  were  "decided 
upon"  October  16,  1829,  and  the  term  of  the  contracts 
began  January  1,  1830,  and  will  end  December  31,  1833. 
It  shows  the  contract  for  carrying  the  mail  between 
Peoria  and  Galena,  once  a  week,  was  let  to  John  D. 
Winters,  the  compensation  being  $800  per  year.  The 
name  of  John  Dixon  does  not  appear  in  this  document. 
Charles  Boyd  had  the  contract  to  carry  the  mail  between 
Vandalia  and  Peoria,  once  a  week,  at  $550  per  year.  The 


52  TRAVEL  AT  THE  FERRY 

contract  to  carry  the  mail  between  Springfield  and  Pe- 
oria,  once  a  week,  was  let  to  William  Dillard  and  R.  L. 
Cobb,  who  had  been  paid  $200,  the  contract  price  not 
being  shown.  (21st  Cong.;  1st  Sess.;  Ho.  of  Rep.;  Doc. 
77.) 

Inasmuch  as  the  records  of  the  Post  Office  department 
for  that  period  were  destroyed  by  fire  in  1836,  the  au- 
thorities just  cited  appear  to  be  the  best  evidence  that  can 
be  obtained  now. 

The  known  facts  do  not  justify  the  statement  that  Ogee 
was  taken  to  Rock  river  by  Mr.  Dixon.  It  is  far  more 
probable  that  he  went  there  upon  his  own  initiative,  be- 
cause he  saw  a  chance  to  make  money  by  so  doing  and 
the  increasing  flow  of  immigration  and  settlement  fore- 
told the  end  of  the  fur  business.  Moreover,  the  records 
show  that  when  Mr.  Dixon  reached  the  place,  it  was  to 
become  Ogee's  tenant,  not  to  establish  or  own  a  ferry. 

In  1870  the  Telegraph  and  Herald  Company  published 
a  "History  of  Dixon  and  Lee  County,"  (without  giving 
the  name  of  the  author),  and  it  is  the  first  history  of 
either  Dixon  or  the  county  that  was  written  or  published. 
From  it  we  quote : — 

"Forty-four  years  ago  the  first  log  cabin  was 
erected  on  the  site  of  Dixon.  It  wras  the  first,  and 
at  that  time  the  only  habitation  after  the  manner  of 
white  men  for  many  miles,  in  any  direction,  and,  in 
fact,  this  was  not  a  white  man 's  house.  A  half-breed 
Indian  had  come  to  this  point  to  establish  a  ferry, 
and  was  attracted  by  the  tide  of  emigration  that  had 
set  in,  in  the  spring  of  the  above  year,  from  the  south- 
ern part  of  the  state,  to  Galena,  where  rich  lead 
mines  had  been  discovered.  This  man's  name  was 
O'Gee,  and  he  showed  great  forethought  and  a  'long 
head'  in  opening  his  ferry  at  this  point,  as  it  was 
just  here  that  the  greatest  amount  of  travel  appeared 
to  undertake  the  crossing  of  Rock  river,  and  as  soon 
as  it  was  known  that  there  was  a  ferry  and  station 
here  the  business  that  O'Gee  did  was  enormous." 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  53 

(The  reader,  doubtless,  will  note  the  errors  as  to  date 

and  name.) 

Ogee  was  a  man  of  influence  with  the  Indians,  especially 
so  with  the  Potawatomies,  who  occupied  the  country 
south  of  the  river  there.  He  was  possessed  of  some  prop- 
erty and  had  the  ability  to  manage  it.  It  is  incredible 
that  he  would  have  been  entrusted  so  long  in  charge  of 
the  affairs  and  property  of  the  American  Fur  Company, 
some  seven  years  or  more,  unless  he  was  capable  of  man- 
aging it.  He  started  the  ferry  and  operated  it  so  suc- 
cessfully that  a  half  interest  was  sold  by  him  for  seven 
hundred  dollars  in  November,  1829,  and  Father  Dixon 
had  no  interest  in  the  business  then.  * 

Ogee  was  at  Green  Bay,  Wisconsin,  August  25,  1828, 
acting  as  interpreter  for  the  Potawatomies  in  the  making 
of  the  treaty  the  United  States  made  that  day  with  the 
Potawatomi,  Chippewa  and  Ottawa  Indians. 

John  L.  Bogardus  published  notice  in  the  Miners'  Jour- 
nal, dated  October  18,  1828,  that  he  would  apply  to  the 
county  commissioners'  court  for  a  "license  to  establish  a 
ferry  across  Rock  river  on  each  side  thereof,  at  the  upper 
crossing,  where  the  United  States'  mail  now  passes  from 
Peoria  to  Galena."  In  the  Journal  of  November  1,  Alex- 
ander McNair  and  G.  H.  McNair  gave  notice,  dated  Oc- 
tober 25,  %that  they  would  apply  for  a  "license  for  the 
upper  ferry  on  both  sides  of  Bock  river."  The  court  did 
not  act  upon  either  of  these  applications. 

It  is  to  be  remembered  that  when  Ogee  started  his 
ferry  the  territory  north  and  west  of  Bock  river  at  this 
place  was  Winnebago  country,  and  that  south  and  east  of 
the  river  was  the  country  of  the  Chippewa,  Ottawa  and 
Potawatomi  Indians  of  the  Illinois.  The  country  south 
of  the  river  was  ceded  to  the  United  States  by  the  treaty 
of  July  29,  1829,  and  that  north  of  the  river  by  the 
treaty  of  August  1,  1829.  The  treaty  of  Green  Bay, 
already  mentioned,  reads:  "It  is  also  agreed  by  the 


54  OGEE  SEEKS  A  LICENSE 

Indians  that  a  ferry  may  be  established  over  the  Rock 
River  where  the  Fort  Clark  road  crosses  the  same. ' '  This 
may  explain  what  apparently  was  Ogee 's  belief, — that  he 
did  not  need  any  other  license. 

His  good  friend,  John  Turney,  Galena's  first  lawyer, 
who  was  a  member  of  the  house  of  representatives  in 
the  Sixth  General  Assembly,  1828- '9,  for  the  Jo  Daviess 
district,  introduced  in  the  house  the  petition  of  Joseph 
Ogee  praying  that  he  be  given  the  l  i  privilege  of  building 
houses  and  establishing  a  Ferry  on  Rock  River  at  the 
common  crossing  place  upon  the  road  leading  from  Fort 
Clark  to  the  Fever  River  lead  mines,"  and  the  committee 
to  which  it  was  sent  reported  a  bill  for  "An  Act  authoriz- 
ing Joseph  Ogee  to  establish  a  ferry  on  Rock  River."  It 
passed  the  house  December  12,  1828,  but  the  senate  killed 
it  by  adjourning  in  January  after  postponing  considera- 
tion of  the  bill  until  the  fourth  of  July  following.  At 
this  same  session  of  the  legislature,  the  senate  amended 
the  house  bill  for  "An  Act  authorizing  James  R.  Vine- 
yard to  establish  a  ferry  on  Rock  River,"  but  the  house 
refused  to  concur  in  those  amendments,  and  that  bill 
failed.  (The  Galena  Advertiser  of  February  22,  1830, 
gives  the  name  of  J.  R.  Vineyard  as  a  member  of  Galena 's 
volunteer  fire  department  assigned  to  the  third  ward. 
Kett,  History  of  Jo  Daviess  County,  457.  He  afterwards 
moved  to  Wisconsin,  becoming  a  member,  for  Iowa 
County,  of  the  first,  second  and  third  councils  in  the  terri- 
torial legislature,  and  being  expelled  from  the  last  for  the 
murder  of  a  fellow  member  of  the  council  in  February. 
1842.  Wis.  His.  Coll.  v.  11,  p.  408.) 

In  the  Journal  of  January  10,  1829,  and  other  issues 
following,  is  the  following:— 

"Notice.  I  shall  apply  to  the  county  commission- 
ers' court  of  Jo  Daviess  county  at  their  March  term 
to  obtain  a  license  for  a  ferry  on  Rock  river  at  the 
upper  crossing  embracing  a  landing  on  both  sides. 
Joseph  Ogee,  Resident,  Jan.  3." 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  55 

The  court  did  not  pass  upon  this  application. 

The  Galena  Advertiser  of  July  27, 1829,  says  a  band  of 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  Winnebagoes,  from  the 
Spotted  Arms  village,  on  their  way  to  Rock  Island,  the 
place  appointed  for  the  making  of  a  treaty,  reached 
Ogee 's  Ferry  and  there  learned  the  treaty  would  be  made 
at  Prairie  du  Chien.  This  so  enraged  them  that  they 
declared  they  would  not  participate  in  or  respect  any 
treaty  made  at  the  latter  place.  They  did  go,  however, 
and  join  in  the  treaty. 

If  the  treaty  made  at  Prairie  du  Chien  July  29, 
1829,  with  the  "Chippewa,  Ottawa  and  Potawatomi  In- 
dians of  the  Illinois",  and  the  treaty  made  there  August 
1, 1829,  with  the  Winnebago  Indians  are  correctly  printed 
in  the  official  edition  of  the  United  States  Statutes,  the 
execution  of  the  former  was  witnessed  by  ' '  Sogee ' ',  and 
that  of  the  latter  by ' '  Joge ' ',  but  it  is  fairly  probable  from 
his  signatures  that  still  exist  that  these  are  errors  of 
transcription,  and  that  the  witness  was  Joseph  Ogee. 

The  report  of  the  auditor  of  the  War  Department, 
sent  to  the  House  February  23, 1830,  by  the  Secretary  of 
War,  shows  that  among  the  disbursements  made  .by 
Peter  Menard,  Jr.,  Indian  sub-agent  at  Peoria,  were 
items  aggregating  $433.33  paid  to  Joseph  Ogee  for  his 
services  as  '-'interpreter  of  the  Potowatamies "  from 
September  1, 1828,  to  September  30, 1829,  and  $15  paid  to 
John  Dixon  November  30,  1828,  for  "provisions  fur- 
nished the  Indians."  (21st  Cong.;  1st  Sess.;  Ho.  Doc. 
87.) 

A  "Map  of  the  United  States  Lead  Mines  on  the  upper 
Mississippi  River",  drawn  and  published  by  R.  W.  Chand- 
ler of  Galena,  in  1829,  shows  "Ogee's  Ferry  and  Tavern". 

It  appears  that  he  had  some  knowledge  of  the  law  con- 
cerning stray  animals,  as  he  advertised  in  the  Miners' 
Journal  for  four  successive  weeks  during  July  and  Au- 
gust, 1829,  that  he  had  an  estray  horse  taken  from  the 


56  OGEE'S    FERRY    P.    O. 

Indians  near  the  Henderson  river,  on  the  road  from  Ga- 
lena to  Beard's  Ferry,  and  was  holding  it  for  the  owner 
at  his  ferry  on  Rock  river  "on  the  Fort  Clark  road." 

Caleb  Atwater's  "Remarks  made  on  a  tour  to  Prairie 
du  Chien"  was  first  published  in  1831,  and  it  is  the  first 
book  to  mention  Ogee 's  ferry.  It  says : 

"When  I  crossed  Rock  river  at  Ogee's  ferry,  Sep- 
tember 1,  1829,  there  was  a  lodge  of  Indians  there, 
consisting  of  an  old  man,  his  son-in-law,  daughter 
and  several  children.  They  waited  on  me,  as  soon 
as  I  stopped  for  the  night,  at  the  house  of  Ogee,  who 
had  married  a  half-breed  and  owned  the  ferry." 

On  another  page  he  says: 

"Rock  River,  where  I  crossed  it,  on  the  first  day  of 
September,  1829,  at  Ogee's  ferry,  ninety  miles  by 
water  from  its  mouth,  was  twenty  rods  wide,  four  feet 
deep,  and  run  at  the  rate  of  five  or  six  miles  an 
hour. ' ' 

In  the  Galena  Advertiser  of  September  7,  1829,  this 
item  appeared:; — 

"A  new  Post  Office  is  established  at  Ogee's  Ferry 
on  Rock  River,  in  this  county,  of  which  John  M.  Gay, 
Esq.,  is  appointed  Postmaster.  Ogee's  Ferry  is  on 
the  mail  route,  and  is  the  principal  crossing  place 
for  travellers  by  land  from  the  Mines  to  the  lower 
country.  This  office  has  been  established  chiefly  for 
the  accommodation  of  the  settlement  at  the  Rapids  of 
the  Illinois  River,  from  which  it  is  distant  about  thir- 
ty-five miles.  Heretofore  the  people  of  that  settle- 
ment were  dependent  upon  the  post  office  at  Peoria, 
distant  between  seventy  and  eighty  miles." 

"An  Old  Timer,"  who  was  J.  K.  C.  Forrest,  writing  in 
the  Chicago  Record,  July  26, 1894,  says  Gay  was  "an  em- 
ploye of  Ogee."  He  moved  to  Princeton,  Illinois,  and 
served  as  postmaster  there. 

The  Galena  Advertiser  of  September  14,  1829,  says 
the  first  wagon  that  ever  passed  from  the  Mississippi  to 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  57 

Chicago  went  in  August,  1829,  from  Galena  by  way  of 
1 ' Ogees  Ferry  on  Rock  River",  thence  to  the  Missionary 
establishment  on  Fox  River  and  thence  to  Chicago. 
(Kett,  History  of  Jo  Daviess  County,  456;  Burgess,  Set- 
tlement of  Illinois,  152.} 

In  the  Galena  Advertiser  of  October  19,  1829,  and  the 
four  succeeding  issues,  Joseph  Ogee  gives  notice,  dated 
October  19,  that  he  will  apply  to  the  county  commission- 
ers' court,  at  the  next  term,  to  be  held  the  first  Monday  in 
December,  for  a  license  to  keep  a  ferry  across  Rock  river 
* '  at  the  place  where  the  road  now  crosses  said  river  from 
Galena  to  Peoria. ' ' 

The  record  of  the  county  commissioners'  court  of  Jo 
Daviess  County  of  December  7, 1829,  reads, 

"On  the  application  of  Joseph  Ogee  it  is  ordered 
that  a  license  be  granted  him  to  keep  a  tavern  at  his 
house  on  Rock  River  by  his  paying  into  the  County 
Treasury  the  sum  of  twelve  dollars  and  the  fees  of 
the  clerk  and  entering  into  bond  in  the  penal  sum 
of  three  hundred  dollars  with  J.  M.  Strode  and  Regis 
Laurent  'Sect'. 

"On  application  of  Joseph  Ogee  it  is  ordered  that 
a  License  be  granted  him  to  keep  a  ferry  on  Rock 
River  where  he  at  present  resides  by  giving  bond 
with  James  M.  Strode  and  Regis  Laurent  his  security 
conditioned  as  the  law  directs  and  paying  into  the 
Treasury  of  the  County  the  sum  of  ten  dollars  and 
the  fees  of  the  clerk." 

Those  familiar  with  the  events  of  the  Black  Hawk  War 
know  considerable  of  James  M.  Strode,  and  we  will  only 
add  that  he  appears  on  the  account  books  of  Mr.  Dixon  as 
a  frequent  borrower  of  cash. 

On  the  same  day  there  was  entered  by  the  court  an 
order  fixing  the  rates  at  this  ferry  as  follows : 

Crossing  footman $  .12| 

Man  and  horse 25 

Horses  or  cattle  per  head,  other  than  cattle 

yoked 25 

Each  yoke  of  cattle 


58  TAVERN  RATES 

Eoad  wagon 1.00 

For  each  horse  hitched  to  said  wagon 25 

Each  two-horse  wagon 75 

Each  two-wheeled  carriage  or  cart 1.00 

One-horse  wagon 75 

Each  hundred  weight  of  Merchandise,  etc.     .06 

There  was  in  force  at  that  time  a  general  order  fixing 
all  tavern  rates  in  the  county  as  follows : 

Each  meal 37^ 

Horse  feed 25 

Horse  per  night  at  corn  and  hay 62£ 

Man  per  night 12| 

Each  half  pint  of  French  brandy  or  wine. .     .25 
Each  half  pint  or  whiskey  or  other  domes- 
tic liquors 12£ 

Each  half  pint  of  Holland  gin 25 

Each  quart  of  porter,  cider  or  ale 25 

By  an  agreement  dated  at  * '  Ogee 's  Ferry  Joe  Davies 
County,"  November  21,  1829,  filed  for  record  Febru- 
ary 18,  1830,  Ogee  sold  to  George  "Skillinger"  a 
half  interest  in  the  establishment,  including  the  ferry 
and  the  farm,  for  seven  hundred  dollars,  the  wagon 
and  five  horses  already  furnished  by  ' '  Skillinger, "  which 
were  declared  to  be  firm  property,  being  taken  at  five  hun- 
dred dollars.  From  a  mortgage  dated  January  29, 
1830,  it  appears  that  the  firm  had  been  dissolved, 
Ogee  keeping  all  the  property  and  agreeing  to  pay 
1 1  Schellinger "  one  thousand  and  sixty  dollars  for  his  in- 
terest, thus  showing  a  very  substantial  increase  in  the 
value  of  a  half  interest,  and  indicating  that  the  ferry  was 
doing  a  very  good  business.  February  10,  1830,  "Schel- 
linger" assigned  this  mortgage  to  Lawrent  Bolette 
by  an  instrument  that  was  not  acknowledged,  but  its 
execution  was  witnessed  by  John  M.  Gay  and  "Paskal 
Pinsonault,"  the  latter  signing  by  making  his  mark. 
(Possibly  this  John  M.  Gay  is  the  Gay  who  was  the  first 
postmaster  at  Ogee's  Ferry.  "Paskal  Penseno"  appears 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  59 

on  the  account  books  of  Mr.  Dixon  as  a  debtor  May  21, 
1830.) 

The  Galena  Advertiser  of  January  4,  -1830,  says  that, 
pursuant  to  the  order  of  the  county  commissioners '  court, 
a  road  had  just  been  laid  out  and  marked  from  St.  Vrains 
furnace  on  Apple  river,  near  Woodbine, ' '  to  Ogee 's  Ferry 
on  Eock  river,"  lessening  the  distance  about  thirty  miles 
and  making  the  road  from  Galena  to  Ogee 's  Ferry  about 
fifty-five  miles.  "The  mail  stage  came  this  way  the  last 
trip." 

On  October  28,  1830  Laurent  Rolette  assigned  to 
Joseph  Rolette  of  Prairie  du  Chien  whatever  inter- 
est he  had  "in  and  to  certain  ferry  privileges  origin- 
ally granted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of 
Illinois  to  Joseph  Ogee  to  keep  up  and  maintain  a  ferry 
across  Rock  River  at  the  place  where  the  public  road 
from  Fort  Clark  to  Galena  Crosses,"  reciting  that  his 
interest  was  acquired  through  a  mortgage  to  "Schillin- 
ger."  (The  spelling  of  these  names  is  in  strict  accord 
with  the  record.  The  account  books  of  Mr.  Dixon  show 
charges  against  "Skelinger.") 

Joseph  Rolette  settled  in  Prairie  du  Chien  as  early  as 
1804,  remaining  there  until  his  death  in  1842.  For  many 
years  he  represented  the  American  Fur  Company  ' '  on  the 
upper  Mississippi  river."  He  acted  as  justice  of  the 
peace  and  was  one  of  Wisconsin's  quaint  characters. 
(Hurlbut,  Chicago  Antiquities;  Durrie,  Annals  of  Prairie 
du  Chien.)  Laurent  (improperly  spelled  Lawrent)  Ro- 
lette was  with  the  American  Fur  Company  as  early  as 
1824,  being  then,  and  for  several  years  thereafter  sta- 
tioned at  Drummond's  Island  in  Lake  Huron.  (Ameri- 
can Fur  Co.  letter  book.)  He  and  Skellinger  were  living 
in  or  near  Galena  at  the  time  of  these  transactions  with 
Ogee. 

Jefferson  Davis,  then  a  Lieutenant  in  the  First  In- 
fantry, was  at  Dixon  in  1831.  In  "Jefferson  Davis,  A 


60  FIRST  ROCK  RIVER  BRIDGE 

Memoir/'  Mrs.  Davis  states  that  he  said  he  was  going 
through  Illinois  that  year  with  his  scouts,  and,  upon 
reaching  Rock  River,  "found  the  mail  coach,  and  num- 
bers of  wagons  with  persons  going  to  the  lead  mines 
detained  at  the  river.  There  was  no  bridge.  The  water 
was  frozen,  yet  not  sufficiently  so  for  them  to  pass  over. 
No  house  except  that  of  the  ferryman,  whose  name  was 
Dixon.  His  log  cabin  was  near.  The  whole  party  put 
themselves  at  his  command.  He  told  them  to  keep  a 
good  fire  in  the  cabin,  and  set  the  men  to  hewing  blocks 
of  ice.  They  worked  faithfully  and  ere  long  the  struc- 
ture began  to  assume  shape.  As  each  was  set  in  posi- 
tion, water  was  poured  over,  which  froze  it  in  its  place. 
Sometimes  a  workman  would  fall  overboard,  and  he  was 
ordered  to  run  into  the  cabin  and  turn  round  and  round 
before  the  blazing  log  fire  until  dry.  Soon  the  bridge 
was  pronounced  safe,  and  the  wrhole  party  of  men, 
women,  children  and  vehicles  passed  safely  over.  The 
ferryman,  Dixon,  remembered  the  young  army  officer 
ever  afterward,  and  some  years  ago  when  Mr.  Davis 
was  invited  to  Illinois,  a  letter  came  from  the  old  man, 
expressing  his  happy  anticipation  of  meeting  him  once 
more  on  earth.  Mr.  Davis  could  not  then  accept  the  in- 
vitation, and  not  long  since  Mr.  Dixon  died." 

On  the  first  of  March,  1832,  there  was  filed  for  record 
in  Jo  Daviess  County  an  instrument  reading  as  follows : 

"Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  I,  Joseph 
Ogee  of  the  county  of  Jo  Daviess  &  State  of  Illinois 
have  this  day  sold  and  by  these  presents  do  bargain 
and  sell  to  John  Dixon  of  the  County  and  State 
aforesaid  all  my  right  title  interest  and  claim  of, 
in  and  to  the  improvement  ferry  and  apper- 
tainances  at  or  near  the  place  usually  known  as 
Ogees  Ferry  on  Rock  River  in  the  County 
and  State  aforesaid  with  all  the  priviledges  an- 
nuities and  property  belonging  to  or  pertaining 
to  me  at  or  near  said  place  to  have  and  to  hold 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY 


61 


the  same  without  molestation  forever  except  the 
mortgage  given  to  George  Skelenger  on  part  of  said 
property,  which  I  do  not  bind  myself  to  prevent  the 
opperation  of  and  to  release  the  said  Dixon  from  all 
rents  and  undertakings  by  virtue  of  his  renting  the 
said  premises  by  an  article  of  agreement  entered  into 
in  March  1830.  In  consideration  of  the  foregoing 
the  said  Dixon  has  given  me  his  two  several  notes  one 
for  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  and/' 
one  for  the  sum  of  four  hundred  dollars  payable  jii 
four  months  after  this  date. 

In  testimony  whereof  I 
have  hereunto  set  my  hand 
and  seal  this  twenty-seventh 
day  of 


JOHN  M.  SMITH.  witness 


STATE  OF  ILLINOIS, 
COUNTY  OP  Jo  DAVIESS. 

Be  it  known  that  on  this  thirtieth  day  of  January 
A.  D.  1832  before  me  William  Smith  a  justice  of  the 
peace  in  and  for  said  county  came  John  M.  Smith 
proved  by  the  oath  of  John  R.  Coons  a  credible  wit- 
ness to  be  the  person  whose  name  appears  subscribed 
to  the  above  deed  as  a  witness  to  the  execution  there- 
of, and  made  oath  that  J.  Ogee  the  person  whose 
name  appears  subscribed  to  said  deed  is  the  real 
person  who  executed  the  same,  and  that  he  the  said 
John  M.  Smith  subscribed  his  name  thereto  as  wit- 
ness in  presence  of  said  J.  Ogee  and  at  his  request. 


62  DIXON'S   FERRY 

Given  under  my  hand  &  seal  at  the  county  aforesaid 
the  day  &  year  above  written. 

WILLIAM  SMITH,  J.  P.  (Seal.)" 

Mr.  Dixon's  account  books  do  not  show  the  state  of  his 
account  with  Ogee  at  the  date  of  this  instrument,  and 
it  is  impossible  to  tell  exactly  what  Mr.  Dixon  paid  for 
the  ferry.  He  assumed  the  payment  of  a  mortgage 
indebtedness  of  one  thousand  sixty  dollars  and  gave 
his  own  notes  for  five  hundred  fifty  dollars,  so  the  pur- 
chase price  may  have  been  sixteen  hundred  ten  dol- 
lars. There  is  nothing  remaining  now  from  which  we 
can  know  how  much  rent  Mr.  Dixon  paid  for  the  ferry. 

There  are  many  charges  for  merchandise  and  several 
for  payments  of  cash  against  Ogee,  and  several  credits  in 
Mr.  Dixon's  account  books,  one  of  the  latter  being  an  item 
of  two  hundred  dollars,  January  24,  1831,  for  "Rent." 
There  is,  also,  another  credit  in  Ogee's  favor  of  one 
hundred  dollars  for  "rent,"  but  it  is  not  dated. 

He  is  charged  with  the  county  ferry  tax  of  fifteen  dol- 
lars for  the  year  1831,  but  the  date  of  the  payment  is  not 
shown. 

The  first  printed  mention  of  Dixon's  Ferry  that  has 
been  found  is  a  statement  in  the  Galenian  of  May  16, 

1832,  that  "An  express  has  just  arrived  from  Dixon's 
Ferry  across  Rock  River." 

This  incident  may  serve  to  give  some  idea  of  the  busi- 
ness done  at  the  ferry.  Frank  H.  Funk,  member  of  the 
State  Public  Utilities  Commission  of  Illinois,  is  a  grand- 
son of  Isaac  Funk,  who  settled  at  what  is  now  Funk's 
Grove,  McLean  county,  in  1823,  and  who  acquired  a  large 
fortune  by  raising  and  selling  cattle  and  hogs.  Isaac 
Funk  had  a  brother  named  Absalom.  Frank  H.  Funk 
says  that  there  is  in  his  family  a  tradition  that  Absalom 
Funk,  finding  that  there  was  no  market  for  hogs  in  Chi- 
cago, once  drove  three  thousand  hogs  from  Funk's  Grove 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  63 

to  Galena,  as  there  were  about  five  thousand  people  in 
and  around  Galena  and  he  thought  that  would  be  a  good 
market.  In  examining  the  old  account  books  kept  by 
Mr.  Dixon  we  find  these  items  that  sustain  this  tradi- 
tion : — 

1830.  Mr.  Funk,  Dr. 

Apl.  30  to'  dinner  for  two  .50 

ferriage  of  cattle,  Dear- 
bourn  horse  &  2  men  1.25 

1830.        Absalom  Funk,  Dr. 

Deer.  20.    To  10  meals  1.87 

to  4  horses  1  night  1.50 

Lodging  for  5  0.62£ 


3.99| 

By  the  treaty  of  Fort  Armstrong,  September  15, 
1832,  with  the  Winnebagoes,  provision  was  made,  at  their 
request,  for  the  payment  of  two  hundred  two  dollars  and 
fifty  cents  to  Ogee  in  satisfaction  of  his  claims  against 
them.  There  is  a  provision  in  the  treaty  of  Chicago,  Sep- 
tember 26,  1833,  with  the  Chippewa,  Ottawa  and  Pota- 
watomi  Indians  for  the  payment  of  two  hundred  dollars 
to  *  *  Joseph  Ogie. ' ' 

James  Simons  published  notice  in  the  Galenian  of  Oc- 
tober 24, 1832,  that  he  held,  at  his  place  on  the  East  Fork 
of  Fever  river,  a  horse  "recently  given  up  to  Joseph 
0  'Gee,  by  the  Winnebago  Indians, ' '  from  which  it  seems 
Ogee  had  not  left  the  country  at  that  time,  though  the 
notice  does  not  tell  where  he  was. 

The  old  account  books  show  charges  against  him  for 
"mockasins,"  caps  and  shoes  furnished  his  sons  John 
and  Louis  (sometimes  spelled  Lewis),  and  a  charge  May 
15,  1830,  for  cash  "to  Margaret  to  go  to  Fort."  The 
last  item  indicates  that  Ogee  had  a  daughter,  but  no 
other  trace  of  her  has  been  found.  There  are  three  charges 
against  him  for  postage  on  letters,  one  being  for  ten 
cents  July  26,  1831,  one  for  twelve  and  one-half  cents 


64  THE    OGEE    SECTION 

August  5,  1831,  and  one  for  ten  cents  that  is  not  dated, 
though  it  evidently  is  later  than  the  others. 

The  last  entry  on  the  account  books  that  mentions 
Ogee  is  a  charge  of  one  dollar  for  "tin  beeswax  and 
nails  to  mend  canoe,"  June  third,  1832. 

The  Potawatomies,  says  Judge  Caton,  in  The  Last  of 
the  Illinois,  were  removed  to  a  reservation  in  Clay  County, 
Missouri,  in  1837.  About  two  years  later  they  were  re- 
moved to  a  place  near  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa,  where  they 
remained  a  short  time,  then  being  placed  on  a  reserva- 
tion in  Kansas,  where  they  lived  about  thirty  years. 
Then  they  were  taken  to  the  Indian  Territory,  now  Okla- 
homa. 

One  of  the  Potawatomi  chiefs  signing  the  treaty  of 
November  15,  1861,  made  in  Kansas,  was  L.  H.  Ogee. 
Perhaps  he  was  a  son  of  Joseph  Ogee. 

By  the  terms  of  the  Prairie  du  Chien  treaty  of  July 
29,  1829,  there  was  granted  to  "Madeline  Ogee,  a 
Potawatomie  woman,  wife  of  Joseph  Ogee,  one  section 
west  of  and  adjoining  the  tract  herein  granted  to  Pierre 
Leclerc, ' '  which  was  at  the  village  of  As-sim-in-eh-kon,  or 
Paw  Paw  Grove.  It  is  not  difficult  for  one  to  believe  that 
Ogee  had  a  part  in  securing  this  grant  for  his  wife. 

The  next  mention  of  him  that  we  have  found  is  by  Mrs. 
Kinzie  in  Waubun.  Speaking  of  her  visit  at  John  Dixon's, 
March  13,  1831,  on  her  memorable  journey  to  Chi- 
cago, she  says  she  saw  there  a  boy  dressed  in  the  full 
Indian  costume,  and  was  told,  in  response  to  her  inquiries, 
that  he  was  John  Ogee,  a  son  of  the  old  ferryman,  and 
that  his  mother,  "unable  to  endure  the  continued  ill-treat- 
ment of  her  husband,  a  surly,  intemperate  Canadian, 
(she)  had  left  him,  and  returned  to  his  (sic)  family 
among  the  Pottowattamies.  Years  after,  this  boy  and  a 
brother  who  had  also  been  left  behind  with  their  father, 
found  their  way  to  the  Upper  Missouri,  to  join  their 
mother,  who,  with  the  others  of  her  tribe,  had  been  re- 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  65 

moved  by  the  Government  from  the  shores  of  Lake 
Michigan. ' ' 

Dr.  Everett  told  the  writer  that  he  never  knew  what 
caused  the  separation  of  the  Ogees.  Mrs.  Ogee  married 
Job  P.  Alcott  on  or  before  November  14,  1842.  It  is 
quite  probable  that  Ogee  was  then  dead  for  while  the 
Potawatomi  and  other  Indian  tribes  had  a  custom  where- 
by the  man  could  divorce  his  wife  (Haines,  American 
Indians,  p.  288;  Meese  Early  Rock  Island,  p.  15,  and 
Gurdon  S.  Hubbard  so  divorced  his  Indian  wife  Watseka ; 
Fergus  Historical  Series,  no.  31,  p.  50),  the  wife  could  not 
obtain  such  a  divorce. 

Boss  says  that  Ogee  and  "his  wife  were  not  without 
their  share  of  domestic  difficulties.  As  they  had  no  neigh- 
bors near  enough  to  quarrel  with,  they  managed  to  stir  up 
a  quarrel  between  themselves,  which  resulted  in  the  sep- 
aration of  the  family,  and  Joe  was  left  to  run  his  boat 
and  .broil  his  broth  alone.  *  Ogee  had  been  run- 

ning the  ferry  nearly  two  years;  his  wife  had  forsaken 
him,  and  withal  he  was  much  disposed  to  change  his 
course  of  life,"  when  Mr.  Dixon  came  and  took  charge 
of  the  ferry  in  April,  1830. 

Whatever  the  cause  of  the  separation  may  have  been, 
it  is  to  be  noted  that  the  wife  left  both  husband  and  chil- 
dren behind  when  she  went  away. 

It  is  said  that  Ogee  died  in  Dixon  and  was  buried 
there,  first  at  the  corner  of  Peoria  avenue  and  First  street 
and  then  in  the  cemetery,  but  we  have  not  been  able  to 
verify  this.  There  is  no  record  of  his  burial  in  the  ceme- 
tery, but  no  record  of  burials  there  was  kept  prior  to 
1880,  so  that  fact  does  not  aid  us. 

Kurtz  says  that  a  man  named  Lafferty  died  in  the  fall 
of  1836,  "and  this  was  the  first  interment  in  the  ceme- 
tery. "  If  he  is  right,  and  Ogee  was  buried  at  the  corner 
of  First  street  and  Peoria  avenue,  it  is  reasonably  certain 
that  Ogee  died  before  1836. 


66  DAD   JOE 

No  evidence  of  the  date  or  place  of  his  birth  has  been 
found. 

November  14, 1842,  when  the  Potawatomies  were  living 
on  a  reservation  in  Iowa,  Mrs.  Madeline  Alcott,  "of  the 
territory  of  Iowa,  upper  Missouri,  within  the  Council 
Bluffs  sub-agency,"  and  her  husband  Job,  executed  the 
first  of  the  deeds  by  which  she  parted  with  her  land  in  this 
county.  In  Captain  Enoch  Duncan's  Company  of  Mount- 
ed Riflemen  enlisted  for  the  Black  Hawk  War,  there  was 
a  sergeant  Job  Alcott  of  Galena,  who  was  enrolled  May 
19  and  discharged  September  14,  1832.  A  man  of  that 
name  settled  in  the  town  of  Wyoming  in  1836.  (Hill, 
History  of  Lee  County,  p.  648.) 

Dr.  Everett  believed  that  Mrs.  Ogee  was  the  daughter 
of  La  Sallier,  the  Frenchman  who  lived  in  the  cabin  near 
Grand  Detour  in  1822,  whose  wife  was  an  Indian  woman. 
Keating  had  La  Sallier  for  a  guide  from  Fort  Dearborn 
to  the  Pecatonica  in  1823,  and  in  his  Narrative  of  An  Ex- 
pedition to  the  Sources  of  St.  Peter's  River,  published  in 
1824,  says  La  Sallier  "had  taken  a  wife  among  the  Win- 
nebagoes." 

That  Mrs.  Ogee  was  a  Potawatomi  is  shown  by  the 
fact  that  she  is  so  called  in  the  treaty  of  Prairie  du  Chien, 
and  it  is  reasonable  to  believe  that  the  man  who  wrote  the 
treaty  obtained  his  information  as  to  her  nativity  from 
the  Potawatomi  interpreter — her  husband.  John  K. 
Robinson  says  she  was  a  Potawatomi,  and  so  do  Judge 
McCulloch  and  Kett's  History  of  Ogle  County. 

Dad  Joe's  Grove,  in  the  northern  part  of  Bureau 
County,  took  its  name  from  the  first  settler  there.  In 
speaking  of  him,  Brads.by's  History  of  Bureau  County 
says:  "He  got  his  name  of  Dad  Joe  from  the  trader 
Ogee,  who  spoke  very  broken  English,  who  found  no  other 
way  of  designating  Joe  Smith,  Sr.,  from  his  son  Joe." 

At  a  reception  given  by  the  Calumet  Club  to  the  old 
settlers,  May  19, 1881,  John  Wentworth  said  that  the  first 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  67 

piano  in  Chicago  was  brought  by  Gen.  Jean  Baptiste 
Beaubien,  and  that  "it  is  now  doing  service  in  the  family 
of  his  granddaughter,  Mrs.  Sophia  (Beaubien)  Ogee,  at 
Silver  Lake,  Kansas,  daughter  of  the  late  Charles  Beau- 
bien." 

In  an  article  in  the  Journal  of  the  Illinois  State  His- 
torical Society,  vol.  5,  p.  246,  upon  the  trial  of  the  Indian, 
Nomaque,  who  was  the  first  man  indicted  for  murder  in 
Peoria  county,  Bill  Moon  says  that  the  complaint  upon 
which  Nomaque  was  arrested  was  made  by  Ogee  and 
signed  by  his  mark. 

A  careful  and  thorough  search  of  the  files  in  the  case  re- 
sulted in  a  failure  to  find  any  such  complaint,  and  the 
clerk  of  the  court  says  there  never  was  any  complaint 
made,  and  that  there  is  nothing  in  the  files  signed  by 
Ogee  in  any  manner.  It  has  already  been  shown  that 
Ogee  wrote  his  name  in  signing  the  instrument  convey- 
ing the  ferry  to  Mr.  Dixon.  He  signed  the  mortgage  to 
Rolette  and  his  agreement  with  Skellinger  in  the  same 
manner,  and  an  expert  would  have  to  say  the  three  signa- 
tures were  written  by  the  same  man.  This  shows  very 
clearly  that  Moon  is  wrong,  and  he  is  so  sharply  criticized, 
in  the  succeeding  number  of  the  Journal,  for  one  error 
in  his  article  that  reliance  cannot  be  had  in  his  state- 
ments. 

John  L.  Bogardus,  a  justice  of  the  peace  of  Peoria 
County,  under  the  date  of  May  19,  1826,  certified  that  he 
had  on  that  day  married  Francis  Bourbonne,  Jr.,  to 
Josette  Alscum.  The  certificate  bears  the  names  of  sev- 
eral witnesses.  Among  them  are  Joseph  Ogee,  who  wrote 
his  name,  and  Madeline  Ogee,  who  signed  by  making  her 
mark. 

Charles  Jouett  was  twice  appointed  Indian  Agent  at 
Chicago,  his  second  term  of  office  beginning  in  1815  and 
ending  in  1818  or  1819.  His  daughter,  Mrs.  Susan  M. 
Callis,  says  her  mother's  nurse  was  a  half  breed  French 


68  JOSEPH  OZIER 

and  Indian  woman  named  "  Madeline  Alscum  or  Olscum," 
who  married  "Joseph  Ozier,  a  soldier  from  the  garrison" 
the  "day  we  left  Chicago  for  the  last  time."  (Andreas, 
History  of  Chicago.}  That  would  place  the  wedding  in 
1818  or  1819.  It  is  hardly  probable  that  this  was  the  Ogee 
of  our  story,  as  he  was,  as  shown,  stationed  on  the  Illi- 
nois River  in  1818.  Mrs.  Callis'  statement  tends  to  sup- 
port the  theory  of  Judge  McCulloch  that  the  real  name 
was  Ozier  and  Ogee  merely  a  nickname,  but  that  theory 
is  overcome  by  the  fact  that  Mr.  Dixon's  account  books 
uniformly  give  the  name  as  Ogee,  and  he  wrote  it  that 
way. 

The  American  Fur  Company  had  an  interpreter  named 
Antoine  Oscum  on  the  Illinois  river  in  1818,  and  agent 
named  Antoine  Alscum  at  its  trading  post  in  the  Illinois 
prairie  in  1826. 


THE  OLD  ACCOUNT  BOOKS. 

John  Dixon  kept  books  of  account  for  many  years  after 
taking  charge  of  the  ferry,  but  only  two  of  them  survive. 
Fortunately,  these  are  the  first  and  second  and  they  cover 
the  period  from  April,  1830,  to  October,  1835.  The  en- 
tries were  made  by  different  persons  who  were  not  expert 
accountants,  and,  the  ink  being  poor  and  the  penmanship 
poorer,  many  of  them  are  now  illegible.  Very  few  credits 
are  shown,  and  there  are  fewer  balances.  The  account 
with  Ogee  is  scattered  over  many  different  pages,  seem- 
ingly without  any  attempt  at  order,  and  it  is  impossible 
for  one  to  tell  just  how  that  account  stood.  But  with  all 
their  many  faults  the  books  are  very  interesting  and  they 
throw  some  light  upon  the  life  of  those  days. 

They  give  prices  of  many  of  the  commodities  the  pio- 
neers needed  and  give  us  an  insight  into  the  cost  of  living 
in  those  days. 

Corn  sold  at  from  twenty-five  cents  to  one  dollar  per 
bushel.  Oats  brought  fifty  cents  per  bushel.  Corn  meal 
cost  one  dollar  per  bushel.  Live  hogs  sold  at  three  to 
four  cents  a  pound,  and  pork  cost  four  to  nine  cents  a 
pound,  and  there  was  a  sale  of  a  barrel  of  pork  at  $11.75. 
Bacon  was  eight  to  ten  cents  a  pound.  Beef  cost  three  to 
four  cents.  Salt  cost  two  dollars  a  bushel,  and  there  is 
a  charge  of  forty  cents  for  thirteen  pounds. 

The  nearest  grist  mill  was  at  Dayton,  and  flour  cost 
three  to  five  cents  a  pound,  and  six  to  nine  and  a  half 
dollars  per  barrel.  Butter  was  worth  twelve  to  eighteen 
cents ;  sugar  ranged  from  four  and  a  half  to  fifteen  cents ; 
tea  from  seventy-five  cents  to  two  dollars.  Potatoes  sold 
at  fifty  cents  a  bushel.  Coffee  was  twenty  to  twenty-five 
cents.  Candles  were  thirty-one  and  a  quarter  cents  per 
dozen. 

A  man  paid  a  dollar  and  a  half  to  two  dollars  for  his 
shoes;  four  dollars  for  his  "thick  boots";  from  two  dol- 

(69) 


70  WAGES 

lars  to  two  dollars  and  a  half  for  "boots,"  one  dollar 
seventy-five  for  his  wife's  shoes,  and  a  dollar  for  those 
his  boy  wore.  His  smoking  tobacco  cost  him  twenty-five 
to  fifty  cents  per  pound, — there  is  no  record  of  the  sale 
of  any  cigars  or  cigarettes;  his  chewing  tobacco  was 
twenty-five  cents  a  "large  plug,"  and  his  whiskey  fifty 
cents  a  gallon.  His  flannel  shirt  cost  one  dollar  and  a 
half;  his  pantaloons  three  and  a  half;  his  socks  thirty- 
seven  and  one-half  cents;  his  hat  one  dollar  and  a  shil- 
ling. He  paid  two  dollars  a  week  for  his  board  and  lodg- 
ing. One  man  paid  $3.75  for  four  shirts,  and  another  had 
three  made  for  $2.25.  0.  W.  Kellogg  was  charged  with 
one  dollar  for  two  shirts  furnished  to  Jarro,  and  with 
another  dollar  for  t\vo  shirts  furnished  to  Pashepayou. 
The  last  charge  shows  that  Pashepayou,  the  Sac  chief 
who  refused  to  aid  Black  Hawk  in  his  war,  traded  at 
Dixon.  The  nearest  Sac  town  was  Saukenuk,  on  Rock 
river,  commonly  called  Black  Hawk's  town. 

The  housewife  had  her  bargain  days — bed  ticking 
thirty-one  and  a  quarter  cents  a  yard;  muslin  at  fifteen 
cents;  calico  at  twenty-five  to  forty  cents;  cotton  hand- 
kerchief thirty-seven  and  one-half  cents ;  red  flannel  eight 
yards  for  five  dollars;  striped  shirting  twenty  cents. 
Blankets  sold  for  from  two  to  five  dollars.  Thread,  both 
linen  and  cotton,  was  seventy-five  cents  per  half  pound. 

Edward  Penseno  is  the  first  to  be  named  as  working 
for  Mr.  Dixon  and  he  earned  $42  working  three  and  one 
half  months  from  April  25, 1830.  Paskal  Penseno  worked 
from  April  29,  1830,  to  May  21  and  is  credited  with  $9. 
George  Elinger  worked  from  May  1,  1830,  to  July  4,  but 
lost  one  day  wrhile  sick  and  two  while  working  for  others 
at  forty  cents  per  day,  and  his  earnings  were  $25.20. 
George  Butterfield  was  credited  with  $27.60  for  \vork 
from  August  22,  1832,  to  October  31,  and  with  $76.80  for 
eight  months  and  twelve  days'  work  beginning  Novem- 
ber 1. 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  71 

Rebeckah  Merrill  worked  two  and  one  half  weeks  at 
$2.00  and  another  period  of  five  weeks  at  $1.50. 

Others  working  for  Mr.  Dixon  were  James  V.  Wagner, 
John  Doyle,  P.  Grover,  Nancy  Walker,  George  Powers, 
Patrick  McCormack,  Thomas  Spicer,  Charles  Lane,  Isaac 

Morgan,  William  ,  -      -  Brownfield,  Murphy, 

Brink, Siner,  Joseph , Me  Clure, 

Grant,  McClure  must  have  been  considered  an  exception- 
ally good  worker,  as  he  earned  $1.12^  a.  day  for  part  of 
the  time.  The  usual  pay  was  from  twelve  to  sixteen  dol- 
lars per  month. 

There  always  has  been  a  belief  in  the  family  that  a  col- 
ored man  worked  some  time  for  Mr.  Dixon,  and  this 
seems  to  be  sustained  by  entries  dated  May  10,  1830, 
giving  credit  to  Eneous  for  work. 

That  the  fur  trade  had  not  disappeared  entirely  is 
clearly  shown  by  these  books.  Some  of  the  items  in  the 
books  are  not  dated,  and  others  do  not  state  the  prices. 
There  was  but  little  fluctuation  in  the  prices.  Coon  skins 
brought  from  fifteen  to  thirty-five  cents.  Muskrats  sold 
from  twenty  to  twenty-three  cents;  mink  at  thirty-three 
to  thirty-five ;  wolf  from  twenty-five  to  thirty-three ;  wild 
cat  at  twenty <five ;  deer  and  fawn  at  twenty-five  cents,  and 
otter  at  five  dollars.  The  deer  had  become  very  scarce, 
there  being,  in  five  years,  sales  of  only  nineteen  fawn  and 
deer.  There  were  sold  284  coon;  50  wolf;  101  mink;  15 
otter ;  9  wild  cat ;  10,888  muskrats. 

H.  B.  Stillman  and  P.  Menard,  Jr.,,  were  the  best  cus- 
tomers, sometimes  in  the  firm  name — Menard  and  Still- 
man— and  again  in  their  individual  names.  Their  prin- 
cipal place  of  business  was  in  Pekin. 

P.  A.  Lorimere,  or  Lorimier,  was  a  good  customer.  As 
some  of  his  purchases  were  sent  to  J.  P.  B.  Gratiot  for 
him,  it  would  seem  that  his  business  was  conducted  in 
Galena.  Henry  Gratiot  and  H.  B.  Soulard,  both  of  Galena 


72  COL.   Z.   TAYLOR 

were  good  patrons.  Thomas  Hartzell  of  Bureau  County 
and  J.  Demun  were  the  only  other  buyers. 

The  first  sale  shown  on  the  books  was  to  H.  B.  Stillman 
on  June  28,  1830,  and  the  last  was  to  P.  A.  Lorimere, 
June  16,  1835. 

There  are  charges  against  S.  Sacket  for  the  Sangamo 
Journal  from  September  3, 1834,  to  June  1, 1835,  and  they 
were  paid.  Other  charges  for  newspapers  were  made 
against  "Mr.  Anclrus"  for  the  Monroe  Democrat  and 
the  Knickerbocker;  "Mr.  Fellows"  for  the  Christian  Ad- 
vocate and  Journal;  "Mrs.  Fellows"  for  the  Sangamo 
Journal,  G.  A.  Martin  for  the  Galena  Gazette,  and  one, 
probably  in  1834,  against  Isaac  Morgan — ' '  May  30,  Cash 
sent  for  Saturday  Evening  Post  $2.00. ' ' 

There  are  many  charges  for  the  unpaid  postage  on  let- 
ters, ranging  from  ten  to  thirty  seven  and  one  half  cents. 

Many  of  the  items  indicate  that  Mr.  Dixon  was  quite 
willing  to  accommodate  his  friends  by  making  small  loans 
of  cash.  John  D.  Winters,  the  stage  coach  man,  was  a 
frequent  borrower.  William  S.  Hamilton,  "Dad  Jo" 
Smith,  Henry  Gratiot,  John  K.  Robinson,  Dr.  Forrest, 
Zachariah  Malugin  and  Asa  Crook  were  some  of  the 
debtors.  James  M.  Strode  borrowed  several  times,  once 
"on  his  way  to  Galena  from  court."  Colonel  Zachary 
Taylor  obtained  two  loans  of  fifty  cents  each,  two  of  sev- 
enty-five cents  each,  sone  of  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents. 
Adding  these  to  a  charge  of  one  dollar  fifty  cents  for  a 
pair  of  shoes  for  his  man,  made  his  indebtedness  six  dol- 
lars and  fifty  cents,  and  the  book  says  this  was  "settled 
by  note."  Perhaps  the  note  was  paid  in  due  time;  the 
book  does  not  tell. 

There  are  charges  against  the  United  States  for  flour, 
bacon  and  pork  supplied  to  the  Indians,  for  flour  and 
bacon  furnished  the  men  of  the  Sixth  Regiment ;  for  ra- 
tions "to  Colbert  the  express  man;"  for  bacon  and  flour 
furnished  the  men  of  the  First  Regiment  who  were  sent 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  73 

to  Prairie  du  Chien;  for  bacon  and  flour  supplied  the 
men  of  the  Sixth  Regiment  who  were  sent  to  the  Jefferson 
Barracks.  "Col.  Johnson  for  U.  S."  is  charged  $360.50 
for  blankets,  guns  and  a  rifle.  "U.  S.  Gen.  Atkinson's  Q. 
M. "  is  charged  for  double  and  single  trees,  breast  chains, 
augers,  the  use  of  oxen,  iron,  steel  and  blacksmith's  tools 
and  "accommodation  and  sustainance  of  the  sick  of  the 
Army,"  but  the  amount  is  not  stated. 

It  is  not  possible  for  one  to  decipher  all  the  names  ap- 
pearing in  the  accounts  with  the  Indians.  The  books  do 
not  give  any  idea  of  the  value  of  the  goods  sold.  The  first 
of  the  Indian  items  charges  "Haucock  Honesty"  with 
beads,  a  shirt  and  some  paint.  Later  with  "wacoodshun," 
"nobra  skelehera,"  "wawatchera,"  In  the  account 
against  Scar  on  His  Brow  there  is  this  notation — Jarro 
went  with  me  to  his  camp.  The  items  charged  are  a  bridle, 
two  strouds,  five  traps,  one  axr  powder,  handkerchief, 
spear  and  flour.  The  Long  Yellow  Man  is  noted  as 
"good  pay." 

There  are  charges  against  Old  Blue  Coat's  son,  one  of 
them  for  "wy  Parisable."  An  "Old  grey  head  Potawa- 
mie"  is  charged  with  "ferretin,"  while  his  "fat  Son"  is 
charged  with  "1  wapamoon."  Plump  Face  bought  "wa 
sarah"  and  "my  sherry."  Just  preceding  the  charges 
against  "Sack,  old  man"  is  this  entry  "Ogee  says  he  is 
good."  "Fat  Squaw,  with  many  beads"  owes  a  balance 
"due  on  shirt."  Plump  Face  bought  a  blanket  for  Thin 
Face,  and  it  was  charged  to  the  latter.  There  is  an  item 
of  "wacodghun"  against  American  Woman  and  one 
against  the  "Man  that  has  a  sick  squaw,"  for  a  shirt. 
' '  Crane 's  Son ' '  bought  a  blanket,  handkerchief,  knife  and 
"nobra  skelehera."  There  are  charges  against  "Tall  Pot- 
awatamie,  Mrs.  O's  ant's  husband,"  Great  Dancer,  Wa- 
wacockera,  Wakongonie;  "Daddy  Walker,  Hanuzeka," 
Limpy,  Old  Quaker,  Sour  Eads,  Corngather,  "Sin  au 
buck,  old  white  head  Potawatamie's  son,"  Moneah,  No 


74  INDIAN  DEBTORS 

Nose,  Good  Singer,  "Dr.'s  Husband,"  ''Preacher  long 
Sober  man"  "  Blinkey 's  brother,"  "  Jarro's  oldest  son." 
Plump  Face  is  charged  with  "massagran,"  "wa  sarah," 
*  *  my  sherry ' '  and  '  *  ohanena. ' '  Chief  Jarro  bought  some 
"ohenena,"  and  some  "pageuna."  Howekah,  the  "One 
eye  old  man  that  came  with  Crane  &  Orenduff,"  bought 
"torah,"  "Pashcnunk,  Chief  Crane"  bought  "wawatch- 
era."  Squirrel  Cheeks  bought  "oats  netega."  The 
"woman  that  came  with  Mother  Flat  Face"  bought  "fer- 
ritin."  There  was  a  sale  of  "wacoodshun"  to  the 
Preacher.  Chief  Crane's  brother,  "Blue  Coat"  had  an 
item  of  "edah  skelehera."  Many  of  the  charges  against 
Blinkey  are  crossed  out. 

In  the  account  against  the  United  States  are  charges 
for  supplies  furnished  to  Hau  cau  shereck,  Asherrekerry, 
Hanaracerashak,  Dash,  Hounch  hutie,  Chaw  shep  hutie, 
White  Crow,  "Dash's  oldest  son  Hoonk  Cheekah,"  Coca- 
sarretch,  Blinkey,  Laugher,  Comeah,  Nah  he  kah,  Little 
Beaver,  Hanupe  Kah,  Wauconjackpanke,  Hoketchoke, 
Mass  cheeka,  On  cah  ce  nech,  Whirling  Thunder,  Pau  he 
saw,  Hanusee  and  many  others.  These  items  appear  to 
have  been  furnished  between  September,  1832,  and  March 
23,  1833,  and  were  for  flour,  pork,  bacon  and  corn.  No 
prices  are  given  and  in  many  instances  the  quantity  is 
not  stated. 

By  the  treaty  made  at  Washington  November  1,  1837, 
the  Winnebagoes  ceded  all  their  land  east  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  agreed  to  remove  therefrom  within  eight 
months  after  the  ratification  of  the  treaty.  The  treaty 
provided  for  the  payment  of  various  sums,  aggregating 
$38,000,  to  certain  persons  named,  out  of  the  sum  of 
$200,000,  and  that  the  balance  "shall  be  applied  to  the 
debts  of  the  nation,  which  may  be  ascertained  to  be  justly 
due,  and  which  may  be  admitted  by  the  Indians,  pro- 
vided, that  if  all  their  debts  shall  amount  to  more  than 
this  balance,  their  creditors  shall  be  paid  pro  rata,  upon 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  75 

their  giving  receipts  in  full,"  and  that  no  claim  for  dep- 
redations should  be  allowed.  Provision  was  also  made 
for  the  payment,  under  the  direction  of  the  President, 
to  the  relations  and  friends  of  the  Winnebagoes  "having 
not  less  than  one-quarter  of  Winebago  blood"  of  the  sum 
of  $100,000.  James  Murray  of  Maryland  and  Simon 
Cameron  of  Pennsylvania  were  appointed  commissioners 
to  adjust  these  claims,  and  they  proceeded  to  Prairie  du 
Chien,  where  they  met  the  Indians  and  the  various  claim- 
ants in  1838.  The  report  of  the  Secretary  of  War  shows 
that  John  Dixon  presented  a  claim  for  $2,298.25  for  mer- 
chandise sold  to  the  Indians,  and,  it  being  one  of  the  five 
that  were  allowed  in  full,  the  commissioners  paid  him 
his  proportion,  $1,876.28,  the  payment  being  made  to  his 
attorney  in  fact,  James  P.  Dixon. 

Writing  to  Gen.  Clark  in  October,  1831,  of  the  Indian 
trade  on  the  Mississippi  and  lower  Rock  river,  Thomas 
Forsyth  said  that  the  prices  charged  by  the  traders  in 
that  region  about  that  time  were  higher  in  the  fall  than 
in  the  spring  and  ranged  as  follows :  a  three  point  blan- 
ket was  sold  for  $10,  a  "rifle  gun"  for  $30,  a  pound  of 
powder  for  $4, — a  total  of  $44.  He  said  that  these  arti- 
cles cost  the  trader — the  blanket  $3.52,  the  rifle  $12  to 
$13,  the  powder  twenty  cents, — "I  know  this  to  be  cor- 
rect." 

The  trader  accepted  for  his  dollar  a  large  buckskin,  or 
one  doe  skin,  or  four  muskrats,  or  four  or  five  raccoons. 
An  otter  skin  was  worth  $3  and  beaver  $2  a  pound. 

A  treaty  made  at  Green  Bay  August  25,  1828,  with  the 
Chippewa,  Ottawa  and  Potawatomi  tribes  were  signed 
by  Kau-ree-kau-saw-kaw  or  White  Crow.  The  treaty  of 
August  1, 1829,  made  at  Prairie  du  Chien  with  the  Winne- 
bagoes, was  signed  by  Wau-kun-tshaw-way-kee-wen-kaw 
or  Whirling  Thunder,  Pey-tshun-kaw?  or  the  Crane,  and 
Jarot  for  the  Indians. 

The  treaty  made  at  Fort  Armstrong  in  September, 


76  JARRO 

1832,  was  signed  by  Kau-ree-kaw-see-kaw  or  White  Crow; 
Wau-kaun-wee-kaw  or  Whirling  Thunder,  and  Wee- 
tshun-kaw  or  Goose,  for  the  Rock  river  deputation  of 
Winnebagoes,  and  by  Wau-kaun-tshah-ween-kaw  or 
Whirling  Thunder  for  the  Winnebagoes  of  Fort  Winne- 
bago.  It  is  more  than  probable  that  the  third  signature 
should  read — Pey-tshun — kaw,  or  the  Crane. 

John  Blackhawk,  an  intelligent  and  well  educated  Win- 
nebago,  furnishes  the  following  translations  of  these 
Indian  words: 

wy  parisable — black  cloth ;  wacodghun — moccasins ; 

wracoodshun — leggins ;  nobra  skelehera — finger 

massagran — lead ;  rings ; 

my  sherry — flint  stone ;  wa  sarah — grease ; 

torah — potatoes ;  pageuna — ' '  for  making 

edah  skelehera — bridle;  fire"; 

Hanuzeka — Yellow  Boy;  wawatchera — blue  broad 

Moneah — Arrow ;  cloth ; 

Asherrekerry — Fox ;  Wakongonie — Snake ; 

Paschunka — Crane;  Hau  cau  shereck — Name  of 

Hoonk  Cheekah —  the  third  boy  in  the  fam- 

New  Chief;         ily; 

Wauconjackpanke — Good  Hounch  hutie — Big  Bear; 

Thunder ;  Hanupe  Kah — Day ; 

Mass  Cheeka — New  Iron ;  Hoketchoke — Green  or  Blue 
Pau  he  saw — Sharp  or  who  Chief  ; 

is  sharp ;  On  cah  ce  nech — Tall  Man ; 

Although  he  was  a  Winnebago  chief,  Jarro  had  a 
French  name  which  he  acquired  in  a  rather  peculiar  man- 
ner. Nicholas  Jarrot,  a  native  of  France,  lived  in  Caho- 
kia  from  1794  to  1823,  and  traded  with  the  Indians  on  an 
extensive  scale.  On  one  of  his  visits  to  an  Indian  camp 
near  Prairie  du  Chien,  about  1812,  the  Indians  were  so 
enraged  against  him  that  they  determined  to  kill  him. 
They  raised  "the  warwhoop  and  brandished  their  spears 
and  tomahawks  in  the  air.  It  was  approaching  an  alarm- 
ing crisis.  Jarrot  and  men  seemed  to  be  doomed  to  des- 
truction. The  furious  savages  would  not  permit  a  par- 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  77 

ley;  but  at  last,  when  the  warriers  were  so  near  Jarrot 
that  it  might  .be  fatal  with  him,  one  of  his  old  friends,  a 
Winnebago  Indian,  stepped  before  the  crowd  of  warriors 
and  raised  a  terrific  war-whoop,  such  as  the  Indians  use 
in  a  battle  where  they  are  sure  to  be  destroyed.  It  is  a 
kind  of  a  death-cry,  so-called  by  them.  The  Indian  was 
armed  with  all  the  weapons  used  by  the  infuriated  sav- 
ages in  mortal  conflict.  The  warriors  saw  the  danger 
they  were  in.  One  or  more  of  them  must  be  slain  by  the 
friend  of  Jarrot,  if  they  persisted  in  the  attempt  to 
murder  him  and  party.  The  bravery  of  the  Winnebago 
made  them  reflect,  and  they  desisted  from  the  cowardly 
act  to  assassinate  the  trader.  Jarrot  and  men  were  saved 
by  the  noble  daring  of  this  wild  savage.  The  Indians 
changed  his  former  name  to  that  of  Jarrot,  and  he  was 
always  known  by  that  name  afterward.  I  saw  this  In- 
dian, who  was  called  Jarrot,  at  Galena,  in  1829."  (Reyn- 
olds, Pioneer  History  of  Illinois;  Fergus  Ed.,  p.  211.) 


THE  KINZIES  AT  DIXON. 

Early  in  1831  the  Kinzies  decided  to  visit  Chicago.  The 
distance  from  Fort  Winnebago  (Portage)  was  not  con- 
sidered too  great,  if  a  direct  route  were  taken.  The 
winter,  however,  had  been  a  severe  one  and  the  snow 
was  deep.  While  making  their  preparations  for  the 
journey  they  learned  that  the  route  by  Kosh-ko-nong 
was  out  of  the  question,  as  the  Indians  were  absent 
from  their  villages,  and,  the  ice  being  gone,  there  was 
no  means  of  crossing  Rock  river  except  at  "Dixon,  or, 
as  it  was  then  called,  Ogie's  Ferry."  Finishing  their 
preparations,  they  started  on  the  morning  of  the  eighth 
of  March,  the  party  consisting  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kinzie, 
Plante,  their  ' '  guide,  on  the  assurance  that  he  knew  every 
mile  of  the  way  from  the  Portage  to  Ogie's  Ferry,  and 
from  Ogie's  Ferry  to  Chicago,"  and  Pierre  Roy.  They 
spent  a  night  at  Hamilton's;  the  next  at  Kellogg 's,  and 
on  the  thirteenth  "just  at  sunset  we  reached  the  dark, 
rapid  waters  of  the  Rock  River.  The  'ferry'  which  we 
had  traveled  so  far  out  of  our  way  to  take  advantage  of, 
proved  to  be  merely  a  small  boat  or  skiff,  the  larger  one 
having  been  swept  into  the  stream,  and  carried  down  in 
the  breaking  up  of  the  ice  the  week  previous." 

They  crossed  on  the  ferry  and  were  soon  in  Mr.  Dixon's 
house.  Mrs.  Kinzie  then  saw  young  John  "Ogie,"  and 
heard  of  the  separation  of  his  parents. 

After  doing  ample  justice  to  "a  most  savory  supper 
of  ducks  and  venison,  with  their  accompaniements,"  Mr. 
Dixon  gave  the  travelers  an  account  of  the  way  still  be- 
fore them. 

"There  is  no  difficulty,"  said  he,  "if  you  keep  a  little 
to  the  north,  and  strike  the  great  Sank  trail.  If  you  get 
too  far  to  the  south,  you  will  come  upon  the  Winnebago 
Swamp,  and  once  in  that,  there  is  no  telling  when  you 
will  ever  get  out  again.  As  for  the  distance,  it  is  noth- 

(78) 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  79 

ing  at  all  to  speak  of.  Two  young  men  came  out  here  from 
Chicago,  on  foot,  last  fall.  They  got  here  in  the  evening 
of  the  second  day;  and  even  with  a  lady  in  your  party, 
you  could  go  on  horseback  in  less  time  than  that.  The 
only  thing  is  to  be  sure  and  get  on  the  great  track  that 
the  Sauks  have  made,  in  going  every  year  from  the  Mis- 
sissippi to  Canada,  to  receive  their  presents  from  the 
British  Indian  Agent." 

' l  The  following  morning,  which  was  a  bright  and  lovely 
one  for  that  season  of  the  year,  we  took  leave  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dixon,  in  high  spirits.  We  traveled  for  the  first  few 
miles  along  the  beautiful,  undulating  banks  of  the  Bock 
River,  always  in  an  easterly  direction,  keeping  the  beaten 
path,  or  rather  road,  which  led  to  Fort  Clark  or  Peoria. 
The  Sauk  trail,  we  had  been  told,  would  cross  this  road, 
at  the  distance  of  about  six  miles. 

After  traveling,  as  we  judged,  fully  that  distance,  we 
came  upon  a  trail,  bearing  northeast,  and  a  consultation 
was  held  as  to  the  probability  of  its  being  the  one  we 
were  in  search  of. 

Mr.  Kinzie  was  of  opinion  that  it  tended  too  much  to 
the  north,  and  was,  moreover,  too  faint  and  obscure  for 
a  trail  so  much  used,  and  by  so  large  a  body  of  Indians 
in  their  annual  journeys. 

Plante  was  positive  as  to  its  being  the  very  spot  where 
he  and  'Piche'  in  their  journey  to  Fort  Winnebago,  the 
year  before,  struck  into  the  great  road.  'On  that  very 
rising  ground  at  the  point  of  the  woods,  he  remembered 
perfectly  stopping  to  shoot  ducks,  which  they  ate  for  their 
supper. ' 

Mr.  Kellogg  was  noncommittal,  but  sided  alternately 
with  each  speaker. 

As  Plante  was  the  'guide,'  and  withal  so  confident  of 
being  right,  it  was  decided  to  follow  him,  not  without 
some  demurring,  however,  on  the  part  of  the  bour- 
geois, who  every  now  and  then  called  a  halt,  to  discuss 
the  state  of  affairs. 


80  AT  GRAND  DETOUR 

'  Now  Plante, '  he  would  say, '  I  am  sure  you  are  leading 
us  too  far  north.  Why,  man,  if  we  keep  on  in  this  direc- 
tion, following  the  course  of  the  river,  we  shall  bring  up 
at  Kosh-ko-nong,  instead  of  Chicago.' 

i Ah!  mon  bourgeois,'  would  the  light-hearted  Canadian 
reply,  'would  I  tell  you  this  is  the  road  if  I  were  not  quite 
certain?  Only  one  year  ago  I  traveled  it,  and  can  I  for- 
get so  soon?  Oh!  no — I  remember  every  foot  of  it.' 

But  Monsieur  Plante  was  convinced  of  his  mistake 
when  the  trail  brought  us  to  the  great  bend  of  the  river 
with  its  bold  rocky  bluffs." 

Mr.  Kinzie  then  took  command  and  they  proceeded  in 
a  direction  "as  nearly  east  as  possible."  Other  misfor- 
tunes befell  them  before  they  reached  Chicago,  but  we 
are  not  concerned  in  them  now. 

It  is  impossible  for  one  acquainted  with  that  territory 
to  understand  why  the  Kinzie  party  traveled  from 
Dixon's  as  they  did,  unless  it  be  that  they  misunderstood 
what  Mr.  Dixon  told  them,  and  Kellogg  was  so  confused 
that  he  was  lost  at  the  start. 

Mr.  Dixon  knew,  and  Kellogg  must  have  known,  that 
the  road  to  Chicago  did  not  run  along  the  river.  Dixon 
and  Kellogg  well  knew  that  the  crossing  of  the  Sauk 
trail  was  south  of  Dixon's.  Kinzie  certainly  must  have 
misunderstood  what  Dixon  said  about  the  Indian  trails, 
for  Dixon  knew  that  the  "Great  Sauk"  trail  from  the 
Mississippi  to  Canada  did  not  touch  Chicago,  and  it  was 
far  south  of  another  trail  that  did  go  from  the  Mississippi 
to  Chicago.  It  is  more  than  probable  that  Dixon  told 
them  to  go  south  until  they  reached  the  first  trail  and 
then  to  follow  that  to  Chicago.  He  could  not  have  told 
them  that  that  trail,  or  the  Great  Sauk  trail  was  about 
six  miles  from  Dixon's,  for  he  knew  it  was  farther. 

It  is  very  clear  that  Mr.  Dixon  did  not  see  the  party 
start  out,  for  he  would  not  have  permitted  them  to  travel 
"the  first  few  miles  along  the  beautiful,  undulating  banks 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  81 

of  the  Rock  River,"  as  that  course  would  have  taken 
them  back  to  Fort  Winnebago.  They  did  not  keep  "the 
beaten  path,  or  rather  road,  which  led  to  Fort  Clark  or 
Peoria, ' '  for  that  did  not  follow  the  river  bank. 


THE  OLD  CENTRAL  RAILROAD  AT  DIXON. 

The  "Act  to  establish  and  maintain  a  general  system 
of  internal  improvement,"  approved  February  27,  1837, 
appropriated  three  and  one-half  million  dollars  for  the 
purpose  of  building  a  railroad  from  Cairo  to  Galena,  by 
way  of  Savanna. 

The  act  created  a  Board  of  Fund  Commissioners  and 
authorized  it  borrow  money  on  the  faith  and  credit  of 
the  state  and  pay  out  this  money  on  warrants  drawn  by 
the  commissioners  of  public  works.  It  created  also,  a 
Board  of  Commissioners  of  Public  Works  of  seven  mem- 
bers, to  be  elected  by  the  legislature  biennially,  one  from 
each  of  the  judicial  districts  into  which  the  State  was 
then  divided.  The  first  board  was  composed  of  William 
Kinney,  whom  the  Board  elected  its  president,  Murray 
McConnell,  Elijah  Willard,  Milton  K.  Alexander,  Joel 
Wright,  James  W.  Stephenson  and  Ebenezer  Peck.  Judge 
Moses,  in  his  History  of  Illinois,  p.  400,  says  that  John 
Dixon  was  a  member  of  the  first  board,  but  the  legisla- 
tive records  show  that  he  is  wrong.  Stephenson,  who 
lived  at  Galena,  was  the  member  for  the  sixth  district.  He 
resigned  in  the  summer  of  1838  because  of  ill  health  that 
soon  resulted  in  his  death.  Soon  after  his  resignation 
there  was  presented  to  the  Governor  a  petition  reading 
as  follows : 

To  His  Excellency,  Joseph  Duncan 

Governor  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  Sir 
The  undersigned  citizens  of  the  sixth  judicial  Cir- 
cuit in  the  State  of  Illinois,  have  recently  understood 
that  a  vacancy  has  occurred  in  the  office  of  Commis- 
sioner of  Public  Works  for  this  Circuit,  by  the  resig- 
nation of  Col.  James  W.  Stephenson. 

They  would  therefore  respectfully  recommend 
John  Dixon  of  Ogle  County  to  your  favorable  consid- 
eration, under  a  thorough  conviction  that  his  charac- 
ter qualification  and  standing  in  society  would  ren- 

(82) 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY 


83 


der  his  appointment  more  acceptable  to  the  people 
of  this  Circuit  than  that  of  any  other  individual. 


S.  M.  Bowman 

Isaac  S.  Boardman,  Jr. 

James  Davy 

A.  W.  Hughes 

S.  G.  Holbrook 

Wm.  G.  Elder 

John  Young 

G.  B.  Dills 

Stephen  Fuller 

Jos.  Crawford 

A.  D.  Moon 

Horace  Thompson 

Wm.  Thompson 

Carleton  Bayley 

C.  H.  Chapman 

G.  L.  Chapman  by  C.  H.  C. 

C.  Woodruff 
Elias  Dement 
J.  G.  Dement 
G.  Wetzlar 
Hiram  F.  Parks 
Lewis  Davis 
Wm.  Reed 
Denison  Spooner 
Grin  Bennett 
Robert  Averil 
J.  W.  Hamilton 

D.  C.  Stevens 
Hugh  McBride 
Saml.  J.  Charters 
John  "W.  Stoklager 
Asa  Crooks 

A.  Charters 

Wilson 

Austin  L.  Bull 
Isaac  T.  Thomas 

Robert 

Kemp 

James  Benjamin 
Horace  S.  Benjamin 


Wm.  Martin 
David  Hill 
Harvey  Morgan 
B.  H.  Harris 

B.  H.  Stewart 
Wm.  Fellows 
Natt.  G.  H.  Morrill 

C.  W.  &  M.  P.  Bartlett 
Jacob  M.  Morrill 
Harvey  Woodle 

Orin  Skeel 

Peter 

L.  S.  Huff 

D.  Bates  McKenney 
Daniel  W.  McKenney 
Lewis  Lovel 
Coridon  Deland 
James  Hambleton 

E.  E.  Gardner 
John  Cutshaw 
James  Douglas 
M.  Falvy 

John  G.  Bellaragee 
A.  T.  Wilson 
David  Brown 

Henry 

M.  Fellows 
Geo.  W.  Chase 
A.  Robinson 
John  Saunders 
James  Kellers 
J.  N.  Calmes 
S.  Matthews 
H.  P.  Darrow 
E.  W.  Hine 
G.  D.  Latham 
N.  W.  Brown 
Wm.  Jones 
J.  K.  Cutshaw 
John  Cutshaw 


84  A.  LINCOLN 

Harrison  Barnes  Alex  Evans 

Elijah  Bowman  G.  A.  Martin 

Thomas  McCabe  R.  B.  Loveland 

Nemehiah  Hutton  Otis  Loveland 

Daniel  Roony  Roswell  Streeter 

C.  S.  Lunt  Jarod  Martin 

Chas.  Fred  Hubbard  Simon  T.  Martin 

H.  Gates  Hewlett  Isaac  Morgan 

John  Caldwell  Thos.  I.  Harris 

Win.  A.  Fraser  Nathan  Morehouse 

E.  Southwick,  Jr.  Oliver  A.  Hubbard 

W.  P.  Burroughs  Simon  Fellows 

M.  T.  Crowell  P.  M.  Alexander 

James  Power  M.  M.  De  Long 

W.  T.  Chapman  John  Low 

John  M.  Thompson  E.  C.  Cothral 

Henry  A.  Coe  James  McKenney 

Augustus  Hawley  Richard  McKenney 

John  Wilson  F.  C.  McKenney 

Theodore  Jaques  Wm.  McKenney 

A.  L.  Porter  Seth  Preston 

John  Brandon  John  Maynard 

Noah  Beede  R.  L.  McKenney 
(Two  other  names  appear  but  they  are  totally  illegible.) 

At  the  same  time  there  was  presented  to  the  Governor 
the  following : — 

Springfield,  July  25. 
To  His  Excellency  Jo  Duncan 

Having  been  informed  that  a  vacancy  has  occured 
in  the  board  of  Com.  of  Public  Works  by  the  resig- 
nation of  J.  W.  Stephenson  we  take  much  pleasure  in 
recommending  to  your  favorable  consideration  for 
the  vacancy  thus  created  our  £rie»d-  fellow  citizen 
John  Dixon  of  Ogle  County  whom  we  consider  in 
every  way  qualified  to  discharge  the  duties  of  said 
office. 

JESSE  B.  THOMAS,  JR.  SIMON  FRANCIS 

JOEL  WRIGHT  Comr.  Pub.  Works.       J.  R.  SPEED 
G.  ELKIN  THO.  C.  BROWN 

C.  R.  MATHENY  A.  G.  HERNDON 

N.  W.  EDWARDS  WM.  BUTLER 

A.  LINCOLN  A.  G.  HENRY 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  85 

Upon  receiving  these  petitions,  the  Governor  sent  this 
letter  to  Mr.  Dixon  at  "Dixonville  or  Dixon's  Ferry,  Ogle 
County":— 

Jacksonville  Aug.  2nd.  1838. 
Dear  Sir 

You  are  hereby  appointed  Commissioner  of  the 
Board  of  Public  Works  for  the  Sixth  Judicial  Cir- 
cuit, in  the  place  of  Col.  J.  W.  Stephenson,  resigned. 
I  will  direct  the  Sec.  of  State  to  forward  your 
commission,  with  despatch. 

Your  appointment  should  have  been  attended  to 
sooner,  but  my  little  son  has  been  dangerously  ill,  and 
has  absorbed  all  my  attention. 

Your  Friend  & 
Obt.  Servant, 

JOSEPH  DUNCAN 
Gov .  of  the  State  of  Illinois 
To 

JOHN  DIXON,  ESQ. 
Ogle  County 
Illinois 

His  commission  is  dated  at  Vandalia,  August  8,  1838, 
and  he  began  the  performance  of  his  duties  on  the  four- 
teenth of  that  month,  after  the  contract  for  the  construc- 
tion of  part  of  the  railroad  between  Galena  and  Savanna 
had  been  let  by  his  predecessor. 

The  sixth  judicial  circuit  then  included  the  present 
counties  of  Jo  Daviess,  Stephenson,  Winnebago,  Ogle, 
Carroll,  Whiteside,  Rock  Island  and  Lee.  La  Salle  was  in 
the  seventh  circuit  of  which  Ebenezer  Peck  of  Chicago 
was  the  member  of  the  board. 

February  19,  1839,  the  two  houses  of  the  legislature 
met  in  joint  session  and  elected-  Mr.  Dixon  Commis- 
sioner of  Public  Works  for  the  sixth  circuit,  he  receiv- 
ing sixty-six  votes,  William  C.  Enos  thirty,  John  Turney 
seventeen,  Hunt  ten,  and  four  votes  were  scattered. 
Among  those  voting  for  Mr.  Dixon  were  Orville  H. 
Browning,  afterwards  United  States  Senator  and  Sec- 


86          SURVEYS  FROM  LA  SALLB  NORTH 

retary  of  the  Interior,  John  S.  Hacker,  later  Colonel 
of  one  of  Illinois'  most  famous  regiments  in  the  civil 
war,  John  Hamlin,  his  old  Peoria  friend,  Edward  D. 
Baker,  who  was  killed  in  battle  in  the  civil  war  while 
United  States  Senator  as  well  as  Colonel,  Jesse  K.  Du- 
bois,  afterwards  Auditor  of  Public  Accounts  of  the  State, 
John  J.  Hardin,  who  was  killed  in  battle  in  the  Mexican 
war,  and  Abraham  Lincoln.  At  this  election  Jesse  B. 
Thomas  was  chosen  to  succeed  McConnell,  John  Hogan  to 
succeed  Kinney,  and  Hart  Fellows  to  succeed  Wright. 
Peck,  Willard  and  Alexander  were  re-elected. 

Following  this  election,  Mr.  Dixon  took  the  oath  of 
office  at  Vandalia  February  28,  1839,  before  Theophilus 
W.  Smith,  one  of  the  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court.  His 
commission,  dated  February  22,  1839,  is  signed  by 
Thomas  Carlin,  Governor. 

Under  date  of  Omaha,  Nebraska,  June  15,  1881, 
Frederick  A.  Nash  wrote  John  Wentworth  that  he  ar- 
rived at  Chicago  February  11,  1837,  under  promise  of 
a  situation  with  James  Seymour,  who  had  been  selected 
by  Edmund  D.  Taylor  and  William  B.  Ogden  to  survey 
and  locate  the  Galena  and  Chicago  Union  Railway;  "we 
were  paid  off,  and  June  1st,  left  for  Peru,  then  a  prom- 
ising city  on  paper  and  prairie  bluffs,  to  enter  upon  the 
surveys  north  and  south  of  the  Illinois  river,  under  the 
old  Illinois  Internal  Improvement  scheme.  *  James 

Seymour  was  chief;  his  brother,  William  H.  Seymour, 
was  assistant ;  P.  H.  Ogilvie,  draughtsman,  a  lively  little 
Scot,  and  a  graduate  of  Edinboro;  Geo.  Howel,  rodman, 
and  myself,  axeman  and  chainman.  From  Peru, 

or  La  Salle,  our  surveys  extended  up  the  Vermillion  to 
Dixon  and  Galena, — from  the  south  side  of  the  river  in 
the  direction  of  Bloomington,  running  60  miles  without 
a  tree  or  any  stream  to  check  our  progress.  In 

1840,  Ogilvie,  myself  and  others  listened  to  a  four  hour 
speech  from  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  at  Dixon 's  Ferry,  and 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  87 

to  a  shorter  and  spicy  address  from  "Long  John"  Went- 
worth,  then  in  the  bloom  of  manhood.  In  1840  I  was 
junior  assistant  engineer,  and  had  charge  of  construction 
from  La  Salle  to  the  Bureau  river,  near  Inlet  Grove,  Lee 
County,  and  a  small  prairie  town  called  Greenfield,  in  Bu- 
reau county."  (Greenfield  is  now  La  Moille.) 

Nash,  evidently  writing  from  recollection,  is  slightly 
in  error.  The  division  he  joined  was  organized  May  8, 
1837.  (See  report  of  Seymour  in  Northwestern  Gazette 
<&  Galena  Advertiser,  February  24,  1838.) 

Ogilvie  later  surveyed  and  made  a  plat  of  a  town,  and 
when  the  owners  of  the  site  were  trying  to  find  a  name 
for  the  place,  he  suggested  Moulin,  as  they  thought  it 
would  be  a  manufacturing  town.  After  some  discussion 
his  suggestion  was  modified  and  the  name  made  Moline. 
(Moline  Dispatch,  August  24,  1898.) 

In  June,  1837,  a  party  of  engineers  was  formed  at  Ga- 
lena, with  William  B.  Gilbert  at  its  head,  and  given 
charge  of  the  work  between  Galena  and  Rock  river.  In 
the  same  month  a,  fourth  corps  of  engineers  was  organ- 
ized at  Dixon 's  Ferry,  with  Amedee  Blanc  in  charge  un- 
til the  arrival  of  Ogilvie  who  continued  the  surveys  until 
his  health  failed.  Blanc,  whose  work  had  been  confined 
to  the  Rock  river  improvement  up  to  that  time,  then 
took  up  the  railroad  surveys.  This  party  was  disbanded 
in  the  fall  of  that  year.  (25th  Cong.,  2d  Sess.:  Sen.  Doc. 
259.) 

The  division  engineer's  office  was  located  at  Dixon  in 
a  building  erected  by  "Granny"  John  Wilson  on  the 
south  side  of  East  First  Street  between  Galena  and 
Ottawa  avenues.  The  first  term  of  the  Circuit  Court  of 
Ogle  County  was  held  in  that  building  in  1837.  (Kurtz, 
History  of  Dixon  and  Palmyra;  Hill,  History  of  Lee 
County.} 

Stephenson  advertised  for  bids  for  the  construction  of 
the  railroad  from  Galena  to  the  south,  the  bids  to  be 


88  LA  SALLE  TO  INLET 

opened  at  Dixon's  Ferry,  Ogle  County,  May  12,  1838, 
and  it  appears  that  they  were  opened  and  the  contracts 
awarded  that  day.  The  law  required  the  concurrence 
of  "the  acting  commissioner  on  the  line,  and  at  least 
one  other  member  of  the  board,"  together  with  the  rec- 
ommendation of  "the  principal  engineer  in  charge  of  the 
work, ' '  in  the  letting  of  contracts. 

Attached  to  the  Report  of  Joel  Wright,  Commissioner 
of  Public  Works  for  the  Fifth  Circuit,  is  a  report  of 
Hiram  P.  Woodworth,  Chief  Engineer,  dated  at  the  Rail- 
road Office,  La  Salle  County,  November  27,  1838,  stat- 
ing that  contracts  for  the  construction  of  that  part  of  the 
Central  Railroad  extending  southerly  from  Galena  twenty 
miles  had  been  let  "last  May ; "  that  the  work  was  delayed 
because  although  some  of  the  contractors  had  labored 
faithfully  others  had  abandoned  their  jobs  and  absconded, 
and,  also,  by  reason  of  the  "protracted  and  painful  ill- 
ness of  our  late  and  much  lamented"  commissioner  Col. 
Stephenson.  He  also  said  that  he  had  had  thorough  sur- 
veys made  on  every  possible  route  between  Savanna  and 
Rock  river,  owing  to  the  feeling  exhibited. 

From  the  report  of  T.  B.  Ransom,  engineer,  November 
28,  1838,  attached  to  the  report  of  Commissioner  Peck, 
it  appears  that  the  line  of  the  Central  Railroad  north 
of  the  Illinois  river  had  been  located  so  that  it  would 
cross  Bureau  creek  about  eighteen  and  a  quarter  miles 
from  La  Salle  and  Inlet  creek  about  twenty-eight  and 
two-thirds  miles  from  La  Salle;  that  one  line  had  been 
considered  that  would  cross  Rock  river  about  two  miles 
above  Dixon's  Ferry. 

Ransom  further  says  that  the  contract  for  the  construc- 
tion of  the  first  eleven  miles  north  of  La  Salle  was  let 
to  Kennedy  &  Brookin,  with  H.  K.  Curtis  in  charge  as 
engineer. 

A  petition  of  citizens  residing  "in  the  Rock  river  coun- 
try" was  presented  to  the  Legislature  in  1838  soon  after 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  89 

it  was  reported  that  the  Board  of  Public  works  had  so 
located  the  line  of  the  Central  Railroad  that  it  would  pass 
through  Dixon,  and  in  it  these  worthy  citizens  complained 
that  the  road  from  '"Rocky  Ford  on  the  Inlet"  to  a  point 
on  the  Mississippi  near  Savanna  had  been  ' '  located  to  suit 
personal  interests  rather  than  those  of  the  State;"  that 
it  had  been  located  on  "very  uneven  ground"  and  on  a 
route  longer  than  other  routes ;  that  it  would  cross  Rock 
river  where  the  banks  are  so  low  and  the  bluffs  recede  so 
far  as  to  cause  the  "construction  of  immense  embank- 
ments to  reach  a  viaduct  of  sufficient  elevation  to  permit 
the  passage  of  steamboats,"  "besides,"  the  water  is  deep 
and  the  bottom  sand  and  clay.  To  show  that  they  were 
moved  solely  by  public  spirit,  they  invited  attention  to 
the  facts  that  the  ground  from  Rocky  Ford  to  Sterling  is 
quite  level,  that  the  banks  of  Rock  river  at  Sterling  are 
close  to  the  water's  edge  and  but  about  twenty  feet 
higher;  that  the  river  bed  there  is  a  mass  of  solid  rock 
and  the  water  so  low  that  the  State  had  already  begun 
the  work  of  excavating  a  boat  channel  through  this  rock, 
and  that  it  would  be  good  policy  to  have  the  railroad 
cross  Rock  river  at  the  place  already  selected  for  the  im- 
provement of  the  river.  The  petition  was  signed  by  Hugh 
Wallace,  Lot  S.  Pennjngton,  Nelson  Mason  and  some 
twenty  others,  showing,  quite  conclusively,  that  it  eman- 
ated from  Sterling. 

To  overcome  this  petition  there  was  presented  to  the 
Legislature  a  protest  signed  by  some  one  hundred  and 
thirty  "Citizens  on  Rock  River  and  vicinity,"  asserting 
that  the  railroad  between  Rockyford  and  Savannah  "has 
been  judiciously  located,"  and  referring  to  the  reports 
of  the  engineers. 

Upon  consideration  of  the  petition  and  protest,  on  Jan- 
uary 14,  1839,  on  motion  of  James  Craig  of  Jo  Daviess, 
the  House 

"Resolved— That  the  Board  of  Public  Works  be 


90  SAVANNA  TO  DIXON 

requested  to  communicate  to  this  House  at  as  early 
a  day  as  practicable.  *  *  * 

"3d.  At  what  place  on  Eock  river  the  said  Board 
of  Public  Works  have  determined  that  the  Central 
railroad  shall  cross,  and  their  reasons  why  a  more 
direct  route  from  Peru,  on  the  Illinois  river,  to  Sa- 
vannah, on  the  Mississippi  river,  has  not  been 
adopted.  *  *  * 

"6th.  Whether  the  line  of  the  Central  Eailroad 
adopted  is  longer  or  shorter  than  another  line  from 
Peru,  on  the  Illinois  river,  via  the  rapids  on  Bock 
river,  to  Savannah,  on  the  Mississippi  river,  and  the 
comparative  cost  of  construction  of  the  two  routes. 

"7th.  And  that  they  report  to  this  House  their 
reasons  for  leaving  an  interval  of  ten  or  twenty  miles 
between  that  part  of  the  Central  railroad  already  put 
under  contract  from  Galena  south,  and  that  part  pro- 
posed by  the  Board  of  Public  Works  to  be  put  under 
contract,  during  the  ensuing  six  months,  east  from 
Savannah  towards  Rock  river." 

To  this  resolution  the  Board  of  Public  Works  answered, 
January  29,  1839,  by  letter  to  the  Speaker  of  the  House, 
saying  "The  Board  have  to  state  that  they  have  not  yet 
determined  where  the  Central  Railroad  shall  cross  Rock  • 
river  the  line  not  having  been  definitely  located  from 
Rocky  ford,  or  inlet,  to  Savanna. ' ' 

Attached  to  this  letter  was  a  report,  under  oath,  of 
W.  B.  Gilbert,  the  engineer,  dated  at  Dixon,  December 
4,  1838,  stating  that  the  line  from  Galena  south  for 
twenty  miles  was  put  under  contract  "May  last;"  that 
the  line  had  not  been  definitely  located  from  the  south 
end  of  the  part  under  contract  to  Savanna;  that  a  line 
could  be  run  from  Savanna  to  the  Winnebago  swamp  by 
running  down  the  Mississippi  eighteen  or  twenty  miles, 
thence  through  the  Cat-tail  swamp  to  Rock  river,  but 
such  a  line  would  not  be  of  benefit  to  the  country;  that 
an  examination  had  been  made  of  a  line  from  about  eight 
miles  south  of  Savanna  up  the  valley  of  Johnson's  creek 
to  the  ridge  between  that  creek  and  little  Rock  creek,  and 


91 

thence  to  the  Upper  Rapids  of  Rock  river,  (at  Sterling), 
over  an  undulating  surface  with  a  maximum  grade  of 
seventy  one  and  one-half  feet  per  mile.  Attached  to  this 
report  is  one  made  by  George  W.  Clarke,  assistant  engin- 
eer, saying  that  he  found  that  the  most  favorable  point 
for  crossing  the  Winnebago  swamp  was  at  Rocky  ford; 
that  he  had  selected  the  line  that  was  found  least  expen- 
sive and  best  suited  to  the  wants  of  the  country,  a  route 
that  passes  through  "the  most  beautiful  and  fertile  sec- 
tion of  country  to  be  found  between  the  Mississippi  and 
Rock  rivers,"  and  the  rapidity  with  which  this  portion 
of  the  country  is  settling  and. " the  evident  prosperity  of 
the  town  of  Dixon,  Buffalo  Grove,  the  Elkhorn  and  Pres- 
tonville  settlements  furnish  sufficient  evidence  that  that 
location,  as  here  recommended,  is  decidedly  best  calcu- 
lated to  promote  the  interest  of  the  work." 

Clarke  says  that  he  had  divided  the  work  between  Sa- 
vanna and  Rocky  ford  into  five  divisions,  the  first,  eleven 
and  a  quarter  miles  long,  had  a  maximum  grade  of  sixty 
four  feet  to  the  mile  for  a  short  distance;  the  second, 
thirteen  and  ninety  seven  hundredths  miles  long,  had  a 
maximum  grade  of  thirty-one  feet  to  the  mile  for  a  dis- 
tance of  nine-tenths  of  a  mile,  all  the  rest  being  under 
twenty-five  feet;  the  third  division,  sixteen  and  forty- 
seven  hundredths  miles,  running  along  Elkhorn  creek, 
from  the  mouth  of  Middle  creek,  to  Chambers '  mill,  thence 
to  Buffalo  Grove  (this  is  the  line  he  preferred  but  there 
were  other  lines  to  be  further  examined) ;  the  fourth 
division,  twelve  and  sixty-seven  hundredths  miles,  ran 
from  the  *  *  flourishing  little  village  of  St.  Marion,  in  Buf- 
falo Grove,"  and  extended  to  Dixon  where  it  crossed 
Rock  river;  the  fifth  division,  twelve  and  six  hundredths 
miles,  ran  from  Dixon  to  Rocky  ford.  He,  further,  states 
that  another  line  had  been  partly  examined  from  the  end 
of  the  second  division  having  a  maximum  grade  of  fifty- 
six  feet  to  the  mile  which  passed  "near  Thomas  Wardin's 
house"  to  and  across  '"the  valley  of  Buffalo  creek,  over 


92  BRIDGE   AT   DIXON 

a  gently  undulating  plain,  to  the  Hamilton  Mounds; 
thence  across  the  valleys  of  Sugar  creek  and  Dry  run  by 
the  claims  of  Mr.  Fellows  and  Col.  Stephenson  to  Rock 
river." 

The  Chambers  mill  was  on  the  Elkhorn  creek,  near 
Brookville,  and  was  later  known  as  Herb's  mill.  The 
name  of  the  town  of  St.  Marion  was  changed  to  Buffalo, 
and  later  the  town  became,  as  it  now  is,  that  part  of  Polo 
called  "Old  Town."  Thomas  Worden  (not  Wardin) 
lived  on  section  twenty-two,  in  the  town  of  Eagle  Point, 
near  Hazelhurst.  Stephenson 's  claim  was  about  a  mile 
and  a  quarter  west  of  Polo. 

A  table  attached  to  Clarke 's  report  shows  that  the  pro- 
posed line,  after  leaving  St.  Marion,  climbs  a  heavy  hill 
to  Kellogg 's  claim,  thence  across  a  prairie,  and  with  a 
descending  grade  to  Gee's  farm;  thence  over  another 
prairie,  and  an  undulating  country  to  Charters'  farm, 
thence,  descending  a  steep  hill,  to  Dixon.  The  heaviest 
grade  on  this  line  was  sixty-six  feet  to  the  mile,  and  about 
thirteen  hundred  and  twenty  feet  long.  For  a  distance 
of  about  twenty-three  hundred  feet  out  of  Dixon  there 
was  a  grade  of  fifty-eight  feet  to  the  mile,  going  south. 

Speaking  of  the  bridge  needed  at  Dixon,  Clarke  says : — 

"A  bridge  will  be  required  to  cross  Rock  river  of 
the  following  dimensions:  630  feet  in  length;  three 
arches  210  feet  square;  two  piers  sixteen  feet  thick 
and  thirty-five  feet  wide  at  the  foundation,  tapering 
to  eleven  feet  thick  and  thirty-one  feet  wide  at  the 
springing  of  the  arch;  the  bridge  must  have  an  ele- 
vation of  thirty-five  feet  above  the  common  stage  of 
water  so  as  not  to  interfere  with  the  steamboat  navi- 
gation of  Rock  river;  the  width  of  the  bridge  to  be 
thirty-one  feet  so  as  to  furnish  a  roadway  for  teams 
and  the  viaduct  for  the  railroad,  agreeably  to  the  pro- 
visions of  the  state  law." 

After  this  description  Clarke  continues : 

"After  a  careful  examination  of  the  country  be- 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  93 

tween  the  Mississippi  and  Eock  rivers,  and  consider- 
ing that  twenty  miles  below  Dixon  these  rivers  ap- 
proach within  fifteen  miles  of  each  other,  thereby  in 
a  measure  superceding  the  necessity  of  connection 
by  a  railroad,  I  must  express  my  decided  opinion  in 
favor  of  Dixon  as  a  crossing  place.  This  flourishing 
town,  beautifully  situated  on  the  banks  of  Bock  river, 
becomes  a  point  necessarily  independent  of  any  local 
consideration,  for  it  is  but  two  miles  north  of  a 
straight  line  drawn  from  Savanna  to  Rocky  ford; 
and  in  that  distance,  either  above  or  below  the  town 
it  would  be  impossible  to  find  so  favorable  a  cross- 
ing place.  The  water  here  is  never  known  to  overflow 
its  banks,  and  abundance  of  stone  is  found  on  the 
margin  of  the  river." 

Clarke  compliments  his  assistants,  George  H.  Hubbell 
and  Henry  Wing  upon  their  work. 

Clarke's  estimate  of  the  cost  of  the  railroad  from  Sa- 
vanna to  Dixon  was  $283,791.49,  including  the  bridge  at 
$36,750. 

The  plat  of  the  town  of  Dixon,  as  recorded  in  the  Re- 
corder's office,  shows  the  proposed  right  of  way  through 
the  town,  beginning  at  the  old  Chicago  road  and  terminat- 
ing on  the  south  bank  of  the  river  at  the  foot  of  Hennepin 
avenue.  The  road  bed  was  graded  practically  all  the  way 
from  Dixon  to  the  Illinois  river  at  La  Salle, — but  the  rail- 
road never  was  completed.  So  far  as  we  are  advised  no 
work  was  done  between  Savanna  and  Dixon.  No  grading 
was  done  on  Hennepin  avenue.  The  bridge  never  got 
any  further  than  sketches  and  plans  by  the  engineers. 
The  scheme  failed.  The  state  was  plunged  into  an  indebt- 
edness that  staggered  her  people  and  prompted  them  to 
talk  of  repudiation.  Fortunately,  the  Governor,  Thomas 
Ford,  was  a  man  and  he  effectively  stamped  out  all  efforts 
at  repudiation.  When  the  collapse  came  auditor's  war- 
rants on  the  treasury  were  selling  at  fifty  cents  on  the 
dollar,  there  was  not  enough  money  in  the  treasury  to  pay 
postage  on  the  state's  official  letters.  Nobody  profited  by 


94 


WARRANT  ON  FUND  COMMISSIONER 


it  except  the  officers  who  drew  their  salaries,  the  con- 
tractors who  were  fortunate  enough  to  get  their  estimates 
cashed,  and  the  inhabitants  of  Springfield  who  succeeded 
in  their  plan  to  have  their  town  made  the  capital. 

Whenever  any  of  Commissioners  needed  money  to  pay 
for  work  or  supplies,  he  obtained  from  the  Board  of  Pub- 
lic Works  a  draft  on  the  Fund  Commissioners  (or  Com- 
missioner, there  being  but  one  after  1839).  A  copy  of 
such  a  draft  is  shown  here.  The  John  Hogan  who  signed 
this  one  as  President  of  the  Board  was  Register  of  the 
Land  Office  at  Dixon  from  1841  to  1845.  All  efforts  to 
find  a  warrant  payable  to  Mr.  Dixon  failed. 


Fund  Commis  sioner  of  (ho  State  of  ] 

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<3&&J*f£f,etaj£~ 

/  '/ 


The  round  hole  and  the  slashes  to  its  left  show  that 
this  draft  was  " Cancelled  and  cut."  On  the  back  are 
these  endorsements:  "Pay  bearer,  J.  Beall,  Comr.,"  and 
"Paid  on  the  principal  of  this  Scrip  Seventy  40/100 
dollars,  being  the  dividend  of  the  State  debt  fund  declared 
January  1st,  1851.  $70.00  40/100.  Thos.  H.  Campbell, 
Audr." 


JOHN  DIXON  v.  ORIN  HAMLIN. 

After  the  Board  of  Public  Works  had  finally  located 
the  line  of  that  part  of  the  Central  Railroad  that  was  to 
be  constructed  between  Galena  and  Savanna,  John  Dixon, 
he  then  being  the  Commissioner  for  the  Sixth  Judicial 
Circuit,  advertised  in  the  Northwestern  Gazette  &  Galena, 
Advertiser  that  bids  for  the  construction  of  that  part 
of  the  road  would  be  received  by  him  at  Dixon 's  Ferry 
May  20,  1839.  Subsequently  he  changed  the  time  and 
place  to  Savanna  June  20,  and  at  that  time  and  place  the 
bids  were  received  and  the  awards  made,  Orin  Hamlin 
being  the  successful  bidder  for  two  of  the  sections — six 
and  sixteen — into  which  the  work  was  divided.  Ham- 
lin began  his  work,  and  carried  it  on  in  such  manner  that 
he  won  the  confidence  of  Mr.  Dixon. 

In  due  course  of  time  vouchers  for  work  done  on  the 
railroad  were  prepared.  To  pay  them  Mr.  Dixon  had 
to  obtain  the  money  from  Vandalia,  then  the  State  Capi- 
tal. Hamlin  represented  that  he  had  some  matters  of  his 
own  that  required  him  to  go  to  Vandalia  and  persuaded 
Mr.  Dixon  to  let  him  have  the  draft.  In  the  Northwest- 
ern Gazette  &  Galena  Advertiser  of  August  3,  1839,  is 
the  following: — 

"Messrs.  Kougliton  S  Stevens: 

I  have  just  returned  from  Rock  River.  Mr.  Ham- 
lin has  made  his  elopement  with  $11,500  of  the  pub- 
lic money,  being  the  amount  drawn  for  by  Mr.  John 
Dixon,  Rail  Road  Commissioner.  This  will  make 
a  temporary  derangement  of  the  Rail  Road.  But 
prompt  measures  are  being  used  to  replace  the 
money,  so  that  in  a  very  short  time  the  contractors 
will  be  paid. 

Yours  in  haste, 

JAMES  CRAIG, 
July  30,  1839." 

(95) 


96  SUIT   IN   ATTACHMENT 

Houghton  &  Stevens  were  then  the  owners  of  the  Gaz- 
ette. Craig  was  a  surveyor,  and  a  member  of  the  House 
of  Representatives  from  that  district  at  that  time.  He 
lived  at  Craig's  Mills,  or  Hanover,  near  Galena, 

While  Craig  puts  the  amount  stolen  at  $11,500,  Mr. 
Dixon,  in  his  account  with  the  state,  charges  himself  with 
$11,600  as  of  June  13,  and  that  is  the  amount  he  sought  to 
recover  by  attaching  Hamlin's  property. 

In  the  Galena  Gazette  of  August  10,  1839,  appeared 
a  notice,  signed  by  Samuel  Smoker,  then  clerk  of  the  Cir- 
cuit Court  of  Jo  Daviess  County,  that  John  Dixon  had 
sued  out  of  that  court  a  writ  of  attachment,  dated  July 
20,  1839,  against  Orin  Hamlin  in  a  suit  to  recover  $11,- 
600,  the  writ  being  returnable  to  the  then  next  October 
term  of  the  court,  and  that  there  had  been  attached,  as 
the  property  of  Hamlin,  tAvo  horses,  some  wheelbarrows, 
spades,  shovels,  picks,  etc.  Thomas  Drummond,  after- 
wards judge  of  the  United  States  Courts  in  Illinois  for 
many  years,  acted  a.s  the  attorney  for  Mr.  Dixon. 

The  Galena  Gazette  of  August  31,  1839,  contains  an 
item,  taken  from  the  Chicago  American  of  August  23, 
saying  that  James  P.  Dixon  had  just  passed  through  Chi- 
cago on  his  way  home  after  an  unsuccessful  search  for 
Hamlin ;  that  he  went  to  Louisville,  thence  to  Portsmouth, 
thence  through  Ohio  towards  Canada  until  business  com- 
pelled him  to  return  home,  and  that  he  found  no  trace 
of  Hamlin  after  the  latter  had  left  Louisville. 

In  the  "Biography  of  John  Dixon,"  in  the  Dixon  Tele- 
graph of  July,  1876,  and  reprinted  by  Kurtz  in  his  His- 
tory of  Dixon  and  Palmyra,  in  speaking  of  this  matter, 
appears  this: — "James  P.  Dixon  and  Smith  Gilbraith 
started  in  pursuit,  traveling  by  stage  coach  through  many 
of  the  Eastern  States,  but  they  returned  without  success. 
Soon  after  James  and  Elijah  Dixon  renewed  the  search, 
traveling  in  Canada  and  the  Eastern  and  New  England 
States,  striking  his  trail  once  in  Connecticut,  but  again 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  97 

losing  it,  they  returned  to  Dixon  without  recovering  any- 
thing. In  the  meantime  Mr.  Dixon  had  raised  the  money 
and  paid  the  amount  to  the  State.  Sometime  afterwards 
Hamlin  drew  a  prize  of  $25,000  in  a  lottery.  With  this 
and  his  other  ill-gotten  gains,  he  returned  boldly  to  Ga- 
lena, and  opened  a  store.  Mr.  Dixon  at  once  instituted 
suit  and  recovered  judgment  for  the  $11,500  and  interest. 
The  sheriff  closed  out  all  of  Hamlin 's  goods  that  he 
could  get  possession  of,  which  paid  the  costs  and  expenses 
of  the  search  for  Hamlin,  and  a  few  hundred  dollars  of 
the  stolen  money. ' ' 

This  is  inaccurate  in  some  respects.  Mr.  Dixon  com- 
menced his  suit,  as  already  shown,  July  20,  1839,  which 
must  have  been  before  James  P.  Dixon  made  his  first 
trip  and  long  before  Hamlin  opened  a  store  in  Galena. 
That  suit,  being,  as  it  was,  prosecuted  to  a  judgment, 
would  bar  any  other  suit,  and  Judge  Drummond  would 
have  so  advised  Mr.  Dixon,  and  it  is  not  at  all  probable 
that  the  suit  mentioned  in  the  quoted  matter  was  brought. 

In  the  files  of  the  estate  of  Smith  Gilbraith  in  the 
County  Court  of  Lee  County  is  a  paper  purporting  to 
be  a  statement  of  cash  paid  to  Smith  Gilbraith  and  others 
by  John  Dixon.  One  item  reads  thus : 

''July  26,  1839.  Paid  S.  Gilbraith  to  go  after  Hamlin 
$170." 

The  Dixon  Telegraph  of  July  27, 1876,  has  a  letter  from 
Thomas  S.  Hubbard,  Monticello,  Iowa,  saying  that  he  was 
employed  in  the  division  engineer's  office  at  Dixon  at  the 
time  Hamlin  took  this  money,  and  that  James  P.  Dixon 
caught  Hamlin  in  Baltimore  where  he  had  just  drawn 
a  prize  in  a  lottery  and  then  and  there  collected  the 
amount  stolen,  "but  Mr.  Dixon  had  already  paid  us  all 
up."  For  the  reasons  already  stated,  it  is  apparent  that 
Hubbard  is  wrong  so  far  as  the  payment  by  Hamlin  is 
concerned. 

The  Board  of  Public  Works  held  a  meeting  August 


98  HAMLIN'S   CONFESSION 

27,  1839,  and  the  record  of  that  meeting,  in  part,  reads 
as  follows: — 

"Mr.    Peck   presented    the    following   communication 
from  Orrin  Hamlin  to  John  Dixon,  Esq.  to  wit: 

Louisville,  July  15, 1839. 
Mr.  Dixon, 

DEAR  SIR  : 

I  take  my  pen  in  hand  to  inform  you  of  an  event 
that  you  little  expect.  I  preceded  in  relation  to  the 
draft  as  you  directed  me ;  deposited  it  and  took  a  cer- 
tificate of  the  same,  and  called  on  my  return  and 
got  the  money.  After  drawing  the  money  it  struck 
me  that  I  could  make  a  first  rate  speculation  by  go- 
ing back  to  Louisville  and  buying  up  Mineral  Point 
money,  Cairo  and  Dubuque,  which  was  selling  at  a 
discount  of  4,  5  and  10  per  cent,  discount.  Accord- 
ingly I  started  on  a  boat  up  the  river  (forever  to  my 
shame  be  it  spoken),  and  on  my  way  there  I  got  en- 
gaged in  playing  poker  for  the  first  and  last  time 
in  my  life  for  money.  I  got  a  hand  I  supposed  to  be 
the  best  in  the  pack,  and  I  commenced  betting,  and  my 
opponent  backed  me  up,  until  he  got  up  to  eight  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  then  called  me,  and  to  my  astonish- 
ment and  ruin  he  held  the  best  hand,  whereas  mine 
was  but  the  second  best.  Judge  of  my  feelings  at  the 
time — it  nearly  turned  me  mad.  I  resolved  in  my 
mind  during  the  night  what  was  to  be  done —  return 
I  could  not,  so  I  resolved  to  send  for  my  family  and 
leave  the  country,  until  by  the  means  of  the  balance  I 
could  return  and  pay  you,  which  if  the  Lord  lives, 
and  my  soul  lives,  shall  be  done  as  soon  as  any  honest 
business  will  enable  me  to  do  so.  I  hope  you  will  let 
my  work  all  be  measured  and  give  me  credit  for  per 
cent,  and  all,  and  let  my  brother  know  to  what  extent 
T  am  deficient — it  is  better  for  laborers  to  lose  a 
part  than  you  all.  I  intend  leaving  this  country  al- 
together for  some  length  of  time — but  you  need  not 
be  afraid  but  what  you  will  get  the  money  some  time 
not  far  distant,  for  I  swear  by  the  holy  Evangelist 
that  if  I  am  permitted  to  live,  I  will  earn  the  money 
and  pay  you  every  farthing :  but  for  the  sake  of  my 
connections,  do  not  be  harsher  with  character  than 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  99 

you  can  help  to  sustain  yours,  for  I  do  believe  I  am 
still  honest  (but  been  very  imprudent)  and  you  shall 
yet  say  so  if  I  live.  It  will  be  useless  to  follow  me, 
for  my  plan  of  leaving  is  so  well  executed  I  shall  leave 
no  traces  behind,  for  I  could  not  look  ah  acquaintance 
in  the  face  again  until  all  things  are  righted  again. 
I  have  sent  for  my  family,  but  have  concealed  all 
this  affair  from  them.  They  will  be  here  today  or 
tomorrow.  My  business  is  all  arranged  in  regard  to 
my  private  affairs,  which  is  not  in  a  very  prosperous 
condition,  nearly  all  mortgaged  for  about  half  its 
worth,  which  I  expect  will  have  to  be  sacrificed.  I 
am  afraid  you  will  lose  your  office  by  my  imprudence, 
but  if  you  do  I  will  try  and  make  amends  for  it;  for 
the  works  are  short  lived,  for  there  is  eight  millions 
of  Illinois  bonds  thrown  in  market  in  Europe  with- 
out a  prospect  of  getting  a  dollar.  With  regret  I 
bid  you  adieu,  and  when  we  meet  again  I  am  in  hopes 
you  will  have  good  reason  for  a  return  of  your  friend- 
ship, which  has  been  so  grossly  abused  by  your 

I  do  not  know  what  to  say 

OKIN  HAMLIN. 
John  Dixon,  Esq. 

We,  the  undersigned,  do  hereby  certify  that  we 
have  examined  the  original  as  written  by  Orin  Ham- 
lin,  that  we  are  acquainted  with  his  handwriting,  and 
that  the  within  is  a  true  copy  thereof. 

A.  M.  HUNT, 
H.  B.  STILLMAN, 
RUDOLPHUS  ROUSE. 
Peoria,  July  28, 1839. 

Which  was  read  and  ordered  to  be  filed.  On  motion  of 
Mr.  Peck  the  following  preamble  and  order  was  adopted, 
to  wit: 

Whereas,  proof  has  been  made  to  the  satisfaction  of 
this  Board,  that  Orin  Hamlin  a  contractor  on  the  Central 
railroad  in  the  6th  Judicial  Circuit,  has  received  from 
the  Commissioner  a  large  amount  of  money  over  and 
above  the  sum  due  him ;  and  whereas  said  Commissioner 
has  no  means  of  obtaining  the  receipt  of  said  Hamlin  to 
his  estimates; 


100  JUDGMENT 

Therefore  ordered  that  the  Secretary  of  this  Board  cer- 
tify on  the  estimate  of  the  Engineer  that  the  amount  of 
said  estimate  should  be  properly  credited  to  John  Dixon, 
Commissioner  of  the  6th  Judicial  Circuit. ' ' 

When  he  made  his  final  settlement  with  the  State,  Mr. 
Dixon  was  credited  with  payments  to  Hamlin  aggregat- 
ing $4,923.44  as  though  made  in  August,  1839,  and  it  is 
reasonably  safe  to  assume  that  these  payments  were  made 
pursuant  to  the  action  of  the  Board  of  Public  Works,  and 
that  Mr.  Dixon  charged  this  amount  against  Hamlin. 

The  attachment  suit  brought  by  Mr.  Dixon  was  allowed 
to  slumber  until  June  18,  1841,  when,  as  appears  from 
the  Jo  Daviess  County  records,  he  obtained  a  judgment 
in  the  case  against  Hamlin  for  $3,055,  and  costs.  On 
December  14,  1841,  Alexander  Young,  then  Sheriff  of 
that  county,  reported  the  judgment  ''satisfied  in  full." 
This  clearly  disproves  the  statement  that  Mr.  Dixon  "re- 
covered judgment  for  the  $11,500  and  interest,"  and  there 
is  no  record  of  any  suit  by  Mr.  Dixon  against  Hamlin  in 
Jo  Daviess  County,  except  this  attachment  suit. 

That  Hamlin  did  return  to  Galena  is  shown  by  a  letter 
written,  October  7,  1840,  by  Smith  Gilbraith  to  Major 
James  Sterling  in  which  Gilbraith,  speaking  of  this  mat- 
ter, says — ' '  I  am  going  to  Galena  this  week  to  see  Hamlin 
who  owes  him  (Dixon)  yet  $5,000."  Considering  this 
in  connection  with  the  fact  that  judgment  was  taken  for 
but  a  small  part  of  the  claim,  it  seems  very  clear  that 
Hamlin  must  have  paid  a  good  part  of  the  debt  before 
the  judgment  was  rendered. 

That  there  was  difficulty  in  collecting  this  judgment 
is  evident  from  the  sworn  statement  of  plaintiff's  attor- 
ney, which  reads  as  follows: 

"On  the  18th  day  of  June  A.  D.  1841, 1  obtained  a 
judgment  in  favor  of  John  Dixon  vs.  Orin  Hamlin 
before  the  Jo  Daviess  Circuit  Court  for  the  sum  of 
three  thousand  and  fifty  five  Dollars  ($3055).  On 
this  judgment  an  execution  issued  &  a  levy  wras  made 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  101 

&  some  property  sold  by  the  sheriff.  I  find  by  my 
memorandum  book  that  on  the  27  day  of  September 
1841  the  sum  of  two  thousand  six  hundred  31/100 
Dollars  were  paid  to  me  by  the  sheriff  which  sum 
($2600.  31/100)  I  paid  to  Mr.  Gilbraith  on  the  14th 
day  of  October  1841  as  by  the  order  of  Mr.  Dixon 
which  I  think  I  still  have  in  my  possession.  Of 
course  this  amount  of  $2600.31  did  not  pay  up  the 
judgment  and  there  was  a  stable  sold  &  bought 
in  in  the  name  of  Mr.  Gilbraith  to  whom  Mr.  Dixon 
had  committed  the  whole  business.  This  stable  was 
afterwards  sold  by  Mr.  Gilbraith  at  auction  I  think 
some  time  in  April  1842.  The  stable  brought  $405. 
Mr.  Montgomery  was  the  auctioneer.  Out  of  this 
sum  of  $405  Mr.  Montgomery  paid  me  one  hundred 
Dollars  ($100)  on  the  2d  day  of  May  1842.  There 
was  something  paid  out  of  this  sum  of  ($405)  for 
ground  rent  &  for  the  expenses  of  sale.  It  appears 
by  the  receipt  of  Mr.  Gilbraith  which  I  have  seen 
that  on  the  16th  day  of  May  1842  Mr.  Montgomery 
paid  to  Mr.  Gilbraith  the  sum  of  ($254.77)  two  hun- 
dred fifty  four  77/100  Dollars — which  I  suppose  was 
the  proceeds  of  the  sale  after  deducting  the  $100 
paid  me  and  the  expenses  of  sale  &  the  ground  rent. 
It  seems  that  Mr.  Gilbraith  received  on  this  judgment 
of  Mr.  Dixon  vs.  Hamlin  $2855.08  being  the  amount 
paid  him  by  me  and  Mr.  Montgomery  as  above  stated 
I  paying  him  $2600.31  &  Mr  Montgomery  $254.77. 
All  of  which  is  true  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge, 
recollection  &  belief. 

THOMAS  DRUMMOND. 

STATE  OF  ILLINOIS 
Jo  DAVIESS  COUNTY 

Sworn  to  &  subscribed  before  me  this  3d  day  of 
August  A.  D.  1843,  as  witness  my  hand  &  the  official 
seal  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  Jo  Daviess  County. 
(Seal.)  Attest  WM.  H.  BRADLEY 

Clerk  of  Circuit  Court 

of  Jo  Daviess  County." 

Hamlin  was  elected  sheriff  of  Peoria  County  in  Aug- 
ust, 1828,  and  county  commissioner  in  1834.    In  1833  the 


102  HAMLIN  AT  PEORIA 

county  court  of  Peoria  County  granted  a  permit  to  Alvah 
Moffat,  Aquila  Moffatt  and  Hamlin  to  erect  a  mill  dam 
across  Kickapoo  creek,  in  what  afterwards  became  Lime- 
stone township,  and  they  built  what  was  long  known  as 
the  Monroe  mill.  In  1836  Robert  Little,  Augustus  Lang- 
worthy  and  Hamlin  laid  out  the  town  of  Detroit,  on  the 
bank  of  the  Illinois  about  six  miles  above  Peoria.  In 
1843  he  built  in  Peoria  the  county's  first  steam  flouring 
mill.  It  would  appear  that  Hamlin  did  not  remain  in  hid- 
ing very  long,  for  on  December  8,  1840,  Hart  Fellows, 
Commissioner  of  Public  Works  for  the  5th  Judicial  Cir- 
cuit, paid  him  $2,177.91  for  construction  work,  but  the 
report  does  not  disclose  anything  more  of  the  matter  and 
we  do  not  know  where  the  work  was  performed.  The 
reference,  in  his  letter,  to  his  brother  prompts  the  thought 
that  he  may  have  been  a  brother  of  John  Hamlin  of 
Peoria. 


THE  DIXON  HOTEL  COMPANY. 

In  1837  the  people  of  Dixon  felt  the  need  of  a  hotel  that 
would  be  more  in  keeping  with  the  town.  Some  of  her 
enterprising  business  men  conceived  the  idea  of  forming 
a  corporation  that  would  build  and  operate  a  modern,  up- 
to-date  hotel.  They  prepared  and  sent  to  Vandalia,  then 
the  capital  of  the  State,  a  bill  for  "An  Act  incorporating 
the  Dixon  Hotel  Company,"  which,  having  passed  both 
houses  of  the  legislature,  received  the  Governor's  ap- 
proval March  2,  1837. 

This  Act  declares  John  Atchison,  James  Evans,  Charles 
S.  Boyd,  John  Dixon,  William  C.  Bostwick,  Smith  "Gal- 
breath,"  James  P.  Dixon,  L.  S.  Huff,  John  Brown,  and 
their  associates  and  successors,  a  corporation  for  the 
term  of  twenty  years,  under  the  name  of  the  ' l  Dixon  Ho- 
tel Company."  It  placed  the  capital  stock  at  twenty 
thousand  dollars,  appointed  Evans,  Boyd,  * '  Ga*lbreath " 
and  James  P.  Dixon  commissioners,  to  receive  subscrip- 
tions for  the  capital  stock,  and  empowered  the  company 
to  purchase  and  hold  land  on  which  it  could  build  and 
operate  a  hotel  during  the  term  of  the  corporation's  life. 

Boyd  lived  in  Bureau  county  and  was  a  brother-in-law 
of  John  Dixon.  Atchison  and  Bostwick  lived  in  Galena, 
the  former  being  a  director  and  the  latter  cashier  of  the 
Galena  branch  of  the  State  Bank.  Bostwick  afterwards 
studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  Illinois  bar  in  1842. 
Possibly  the  company  thought  it  could  obtain  funds  from 
the  State  Bank,  as  that  seems  to  have  been  an  easy  thing 
to  do. 

This  Act  does  not,  either  by  express  grant  or  by  im- 
plication, authorize  the  company  to  issue  any  notes  or 
bills  with  the  intent  of  circulating  them  as  money.  An 
examination  of  the  original  bill,  which  still  remains  on 
file  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  shows  that  when 
the  bill  was  presented  to  the  legislature  it  contained  a 

(103) 


104 


ISSUED  BILLS 


section,  numbered  two,  specifically  giving  the  corporation 
power  to  issue  such  bills,  but  that  section  was  stricken  out, 
and  the  bill  was  passed  without  any  such  provision. 

The  fact  that  the  movers  in  the  enterprise  asked  for  a 
grant  of  such  power  may  have  prompted  in  their  minds 
the  thought  that  as  the  bill  passed  it  did  give  that  au- 
thority. At  all  events,  whatever  the  reasoning  may  have 
been,  the  company  did  issue  such  bills  and  some  of  them 
are  still  in  existence.  The  bills  that  have  survived  are 
in  the  denominations  of  one,  three  and  five  dollars.  One 
of  them  is  shown  here.  These  notes  had  nothing  what- 
ever to  do  \vith  the  work  on  the  old  central  railroad. 

All  of  them  that  have  come  to  our  knowledge  were  pay- 
able to  * '  N.  Biddle  or  bearer ' '.  Students  of  United  States 
history  need  not  be  told  that  this  fictitious  payee  was  the 
head  of  the  Bank  of  the  United  States. 

The  company  built  the  foundations  for  the  original 
part  of  wfcat  is  now  the  Nachusa  Tavern,  and  then  stop- 
ped work,  its  money  being  spent,  and  its  energies  ex- 
hausted. 

In  1853  another  corporation,  with  a  capital  of  ten 
thousand  dollars,  built  the  original  Nachusa  House  on 
these  foundations,  the  house  being  opened  to  the  public 
for  business  December  10,  of  that  year. 


THE  ILLINOIS  AND  ROCK  RIVER  RAILROAD  COMPANY. 

The  complete  failure  of  the  state's  internal  improve- 
ment scheme  was  a  hard  blow  to  Dixon,  but  her  enter- 
prising business  men  were  resourceful  and  soon,  evolved 
a  plan  that  they  fondly  believed  would  secure  to  them 
some  of  the  advantages  they  hoped  to  secure  from  the 
construction  of  the  Central  Rail  Road.  They  appealed 
to  the  legislature  and  secured  the  passage  of  "An  Act 
to  provide  for  the  construction  of  a  railroad  from  La 
Salle  to  Dixon, ' '  which  was  approved  February  27, 1841. 

This  act  created  a  corporation  to  be  known  as  the  Illi- 
nois and  Rock  River  Rail  Road  Company,  to  exist  for 
a  term  of  fifty  years,  with  a  capital  stock  of  five  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  divided  into  fifty  dollar  shares,  and 
authorized  it  to  construct  and  operate  a  railroad  from 
La  Salle  * '  to  the  village  of  Dixon,  in  the  county  of  Lee, ' ' 
terminating  at  such  points  on  the  Illinois  and  Rock  Riv- 
ers as  the  company  might  select. 

It  appointed  Horatio  Newhall  of  Galena,  Michael  Ken- 
nedy of  La  Salle  county,  William  Wilkinson  and  Dr.  Oli- 
ver Everett  of  Dixon,  commissioners  to  receive  subscrip- 
tions for  the  capital  stock. 

The  act  empowered  this  company  to  take  possession 
of  such  roads  or  parts  of  railroad  as  had  been  constructed 
by  the  state,  and  to  use  them,  and  all  materials  of  the 
state  thereon,  in  the  construction  of  the  proposed  railroad, 
but  carefully  provided  that  such  possession  was  not  to 
be  taken  until  all  the  improvements  made  by  the  state 
and  all  the  materials  of  the  state  had  been  valued  by 
some  competent  enginegr,  and  the  amount  so  found  by 
the  engineer  to  be  their  value  should  be  considered  as 
so  much  capital  stock  of  the  company  owned  by  the  state. 
The  state  agreed,  by  the  terms  of  the  act,  to  furnish 
such  necessary  iron  for  a  single  track  railroad  as  it  had 
on  hand. 


106  STOCK  SUBSCRIPTIONS 

It  was  further  provided  by  the  act  that  if  the  company 
did  not  complete  its  line  within  five  years,  or  did  not 
expend  at  least  ten  thousand  dollars  in  twelve  months 
after  its  organization,  and  at  least  ten  thousand  dollars 
in  each  twelve  months  thereafter,  then  the  railroad  and 
all  the  property  of  the  company  should  revert  to  and 
become  the  property  of  the  state. 

The  commissioners  opened  subscription  books  and  re- 
ceived some  subscriptions,  and  caused  receipts  to  be  is- 
sued to  the  subscribers,  one  of  them  being  shown  here. 
Having  obtained  some  money  by  this  method,  the  com- 
pany undertook  to  complete  the  railroad,  but  was  unable 
to  do  this,  as  it  could  not  obtain  the  necessary  capital. 

Enough  of  receipt  No.  1  remains  to  show  that  it  was 
for  $10,  paid  by  Harrison,  was  dated  the  same  day  and 
was  signed  by  Keeler.  The  ornamental  work  at  the  left 
end  varies  from  that  shown  above. 


- 

Illinois  and  Rock  River  Rail-road  Company. 


Nearer. 


SSliS  GevtiflCSi  that  U^^2^..ff^&^^!^£^yi^\ VP  bearer 

is  entitled  to  a  credit  en  the  'purchase  of  stock  in.  the,  !i,j.;.\rm.s  \.\r>  MOCK  RIVER' 
f  RAIL-IiOAl)  COMPANY,  to  the  amount.  of-\ 

By  or;';?r  of  tlic  rrcsiUcm  an.1.  Dhxv.-ior?, 

,  Trt.isvr-r. 


In  its  chapter  on  the  town  of  Amboy,  Hill's  History 
of  Lee  County,  p.  304,  in  speaking  of  the  old  Central  Rail- 
road, says: 

"Dr.  Harrison,  of  Peru,  took  a  contract  to  build 
part  of  the  line,  and  sent  a  force  of  laborers  here 
in  the  fall  of  1841  to  renew  the  grading  which  had 
been  begun  four  or  five  years  before  and  wrorked  upon 
at  intervals  afterward.  He  started  a  bank  in  Peru 
and  issued  circulation;  but  one  day  somebody  went 
down  and  demanded  specie  for  his  paper,  and  was 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  107 

refused.  When  news  of  this  reached  the  gang  of 
men  up  here  they  dropped  their  tools,  and  the  sun 
never  rose  on  a  resumption  of  the  work.  Harrison's 
paper  was  in  the  hands  of  the  people  in  this  section, 
where  it  has  remained  so  long  that  its  '  staying  qual- 
ities '  are  fully  and  forever  established.  It  was  known 
as  'Bangs'  railroad  money',  and  is  a  reminiscence 
of  'wildcat'  banking,  and  of  the  old  Central  'wild- 
cat '  improvement. ' ' 

On  page  471  of  the  same  work,  in  the  chapter  on  the 
town  of  May,  speaking  of  John  Darcy,  who  settled  in 
that  town  in  1840,  we  find  this : 

"About  this  time  Mr.  Darcy  worked  a  few  weeks 
on  the  old  State  railroad,  then  being  graded  through 
May.  Mr.  Darcy,  like  many  others,  received  nothing 
for  his  labor  but  some  worthless  paper  issued  by 
a  certain  A.  H.  Bongs  (Bangs)  of  La  Salle,  who  had 
started  a  bank  there." 

When  the  company  suspended  work  the  laborers  be- 
came very  indignant,  and  in  their  rage  seized  Bangs  and 
dragged  him  through  the  streets.  Serious  injury  would 
have  been  done  to  him  but  for  the  intervention  of  others 
who  put  him  in  a  skiff  and  sent  him  down  the  river. 
(Beebe,  History  of  Peru.) 

A  reading  of  Beebe 's  History  of  Peru  induces  the  be- 
lief that  the  author  thought  "Dr.  Harrison"  was  an 
unscrupulous  quack. 

Anson  H.  Bangs  was  president  of  the  Bank  of  the 
United  States  at  Syracuse,  New  York,  as  well  as  of  the 
Farmers  &  Mechanics'  Bank  of  Onondaga,  at  Fayette- 
ville,  New  York. 

From  the  report  made  to  the  legislature,  in  1840,  by 
Governor  Carlin,  it  appears  that  the  State  had  sold  its 
internal  improvement  bonds,  to  the  amount  of  fifty  thou- 
sand dollars,  to  A.  H.  Bangs  &  Co.,  who  were  connected 
with  the  Onondaga  Bank,  and  who  obtained  possession 
of  these  bonds  without  making  any  payment  for  them, 
and  then  sold  them  or  some  of  them,  to  third  persons, 


108  TIME  EXTENDED 

whose  names  the  Governor  was  unable  to  learn.  He 
advised  that  suit  be  brought  against  Bangs  to  restrain 
the  sale  of  the  bonds,  so  far  as  that  could  be  done,  and 
to  compel  payment  for  them. 

There  was  presented  to  the  Thirteenth  General  As- 
sembly a  petition  reciting  that  under  the  act  providing 
for  the  incorporation  of  the  Illinois  and  Rock  River 
Rail  Road  Company,  the  commissioners  named  in  that 
act  opened  books  for  stock  subscriptions  and  it  was  all 
taken  by  A.  H.  Bangs,  who  thereafter  acted  and  was 
recognized  as  the  president  of  that  company;  that  the 
company,  through  Bangs,  let  contracts  for  the  construc- 
tion of  the  road  and  that  work  to  the  amount  of  ten 
thousand  dollars  was  done  thereon  by  the  petitioners; 
that  "the  company  did  not  pay  a  single  cent  to  any 
contractor  or  workman"  and  that  both  the  company  and 
Bangs  had  absconded  and  disappeared.  The  prayer  of 
the  petition  was  that  the  state  estimate  the  work  the 
petitioners  had  done  and  charge  it  to  the  amount  ex- 
pended by  the  state  on  that  part  of  the  Central  Rail  Road. 
The  petition  was  sent  to  the  committee  on  internal  im- 
provements, and,  on  February  27,  1843,  laid  on  the  table. 

All  the  signers  of  this  petition  were  residents  of  La 
Salle  county.  The  petition  does  not  show  in  what  locality 
the  work  mentioned  was  done. 

The  legislature  passed,  and  there  was  approved  on 
March  6,  1843,  "An  Act  to  extend  the  time  for  the 
completion  of  the  Illinois  and  Rock  River  Rail  Road," 
which  provides  that  the  time  for  the  construction  of  the 
road  shall  be  extended  until  five  years  after  the  final 
completion  of  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  canal,  and  it 
authorizes  the  company  to  extend  its  line  beyond  "the 
village  of  Dixon"  and  to  terminate  it  at  some  point  on 
the  Mississippi  River. 

On  May  16,  1843,  Governor  Thomas  Ford  wrote  D.  H. 
T.  Moss,  Esq. : 

* '  I  am  obliged  to  you  for  the  information  contained 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  109 

in  your  letter  of  the  twelfth  instant;  and  I  accord- 
ingly empower  you  to  sell  any  of  the  timber  or  stone 
or  other  materials,  on  or  near  the  line  of  the  railroad 
between  La  Salle  and  Dixon,  either  at  public  or  pri- 
vate sale,  according  to  your  best  judgment;  also  to 
change  the  places  of  the  public  sales  heretofore  di- 
rected. I  also  authorize  you  to  settle  with  any  and 
all  persons  who  may  have  used  any  such  materials ; 
and  to  sue  for  the  same,  in  case  they  refuse  to  ac- 
count, at  fair  and  reasonable  prices,  and  pay  for  the 
same." 

June  16, 1843,  Governor  Thomas  Ford  wrote  to  George 
W.  Gil  son,  Esq.,  as  follows : 

"In  answer  to  your  letter  I  beg  leave  to  state 
that  I  have  been  informed  that  the  officers  and  agents 
of  the  Rock  River  Rail  Road  Company  have  been 
selling  the  materials  of  the  road  for  their  own  use 
and  without  intending  to  make  the  road.  This,  if 
true,  is  a  fraud  on  the  State  and  of  a  piece  with  the 
villainy  practiced  everywhere  upon  the  public  inter- 
ests. I  desire  you  to  inform  the  president  of  that 
company  and  all  others  interested  that  it  is  my  in- 
tention to  have  actions  at  law  commenced  here  in 
Sangamon  county  against  all  persons  found  commit- 
ting those  frauds." 

Gilson  had  been  an  engineer  in  the  employment  of  the 
state  and  in  November,  1838,  had  charge  of  the  construc- 
tion of  the  old  Central  Railroad  south  of  La  Salle. 

This  letter  was  evidently  written  when  the  Governor 
was  not  fully  advised  as  to  the  facts  in  the  case.  It  brought 
a  letter  from  H.  P.  Woodworth,  writing  in  behalf  of  the 
company. 

June  23,  1843,  Governor  Ford  wrote  to  Woodworth  as 
follows : 

"I  received  your  letter  of  the  20th  instant  and 
am  much  gratified  that  the  Illinois  and  Rock  River 
Railroad  Co.  has  been  organized  in  good  faith  and 
with  the  intention  of  making  the  road.  I  heartily  wish 
you  success.  It  appears  from  your  letter  that  this 
is  the  day  which  has  been  appointed  by  Mr.  Moss 
for  the  sale  of  the  timber,  stone,  &c. 


110  SCHEME   ABANDONED 

"I  am  sorry  that  you  or  some  other  person  did 
not  write  me  sooner.  I  did  not  know  who  the  com- 
pany were,  and  from  my  advices  I  could  not  but  be- 
lieve that  a  pretended  company  existed  who  were 
about  to  commit  great  frauds  on  the  State.  If,  how- 
ever, I  could  have  been  furnished  with  the  informa- 
tion contained  in  your  letter  in  time  I  would  have 
ordered  Mr.  Moss  to  delay  proceedings  until  the 
matter  could  have  been  inquired  into.  If  you  see 
Mr.  Moss,  and  he  has  not  yet  sold,  show  him  this  let- 
ter and  request  him  to  desist  until  I  can  further  in- 
quire into  the  matter." 

Woodworth  had  been  principal  engineer  of  the  state 
on  the  northern  division  of  the  old  Central  Railroad. 
From  this  letter  it  would  seem  that  he  had  become  con- 
nected, in  some  capacity,  with  the  Illinois  and  Bock  River 
Rail  Road  Company. 

We  have  found  no  evidence  indicating  that  the  Gov- 
ernor made  further  " enquiry,"  or  that  anything  more 
was  done  in  the  matter.  It  is  common  knowledge  that 
the  road  was  not  built. 


THE  FIRST  BAPTIST  CHURCH. 

Kurtz's  History  of  Dixon  and  Palmyra,  p.  6,  says: 

"May  28, 1838,  'The  First  Regular  Baptist  Church 
of  Dixon  and  Buffalo  Grove  was  organized  at  Buffalo 
Grove,  Thomas  Powell  moderator,  the  following 
named  persons  were  the  original  members :  Houland 
Bicknell,  Rebecca  Dixon,  Elizabeth  Bellows,  Jerusha 
Hammond,  Sarah  Kellogg,  Martha  Parks  and  Ann 
Clarley." 

The  "History  of  the  Illinois  River  Baptist  Associa- 
tion," prepared  by  Gilbert  S.  Bailey  for  and  published 
by  the  Association  in  1857,  says  that  the  annual  meeting 
of  the  association  was  held  in  Princeton  in  1838  and  ad- 
mitted to  membership  "Dixon  and  Buffalo  Grove  in  Lee 
County  with  fourteen  members. ' '    At  this  meeting  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  prepare  sketches  of  the  origin 
of  the  churches,  and  its  report,  in  part,  reads  as  follows : 
"Dixon  and  Buffalo  Grove.    Two  Baptist  sisters 
from  the  Mulberry  street  church,  in  New  York,  set- 
tled with  their  families  in  these  places  some  years 
before  the  removal  of  the  Indians,  and  continued 
alone  until  the  commencement  of  the  white  settle- 
ments introduced  a   few  Baptist  brethren   around 
them.    In  the  latter  part  of  May,  they  were  visited 
and  gathered  into  a  church  by  elder  Thomas  Powell. 
Three  were  received  and  baptized  into  the  fellowship 
of  the  church  at  that  time." 

It  appears  from  this  authority  that  the  annual  meeting 
of  the  association  was  held  in  Dixon  in  June,  1842,  when 
the  Dixon  church  had  forty  members,  and  that  Dixon  and 
Buffalo  Grove  were  dismissed  the  following  year,  to 
unite  with  the  Rock  River  Association. 


(in) 


LEE  COUNTY'S  FIRST  PHYSICIAN. 

Dr.  Green  Forrest,  a  Kentuckian,  announced  in  the 
Northwestern  Gazette  and  Galena  Advertiser  of  April 
25,  1835,  and  the  subsequent  numbers  for  six  months, 
that  he  had  "located,  permanently,  one  mile  northeast 
of  Dixon's  Ferry,  where  he  can  be  found  at  all  times 
when  not  absent  on  professional  business." 

That  he  was  there  before  the  day  of  the  first  advertise- 
ment is  shown  by  John  Dixon's  account  books,  which 
contain  undated  charges  of  a  dollar  for  "11  light  sash," 
and  seventy-five  cents  for  "12  glass,"  and  a  load  of  hay, 
price  not  stated,  and  these  precede  a  charge  of  one  dollar 
and  a  quarter  for  shoeing  a  horse  "Mar.  5,"  and  a 
charge,  "Apl.  1,"  for  a  load  of  hay,  price  not  stated,  and 
a  credit  dated  "Mar.  9,  1835."  The  last  dated  charge 
against  him  on  these  books  is  that  of  August  21,  1835. 

Dr.  Forrest  lived  on  what  was  known  for  years  as  the 
Woodford  farm,  above  the  Assembly  grounds.  Later  he 
built  and  lived  in  a  log  house  that  stood  at  the  southwest 
corner  of  East  River  street  and  Ottawa  avenue.  It  is 
stated  by  John  K.  Robinson,  in  Kurtz's  History  of  Dixon 
and  Palmyra,  that  Dr.  Forrest  went  back  to  Kentucky, 
but  the  time  of  his  departure  is  not  known  now.  There 
are  circumstances,  however,  that  make  it  reasonably 
certain  that  he  left  Dixon  in  1835. 

A  Dr.  Spencer,  son  of  John  C.  Spencer  of  New  York, 
once  Secretary  of  War  and  later  Secretary  of  the  Treas- 
ury, was  living  in  Dixon  in  September,  1836,  when  Dr. 
Oliver  Everett  arrived  there  in  his  search  for  a  location. 
Spencer  immediately  importuned  Everett  to  stay  so  that 
he  might  return  to  New  York,  saying  he  did  not  want  to 
live  so  far  from  his  old  home  and  friends,  but  had  prom- 
ised Mr.  Dixon  he  would  stay  until  a  successor  appeared. 
When  Everett  decided  to  locate  there  Spencer  gave  him 


DRS.  RUTLIDG  AND  EVANS  113 

several  books,  one  being  a  copy  of  Byron's  Poems.  Long 
afterwards  Everett  found  those  parts  of  Don  Juan  de- 
scribing the  mutiny  of  the  ship's  crew  were  underscored 
by  pencil  marks.  Later  there  was  a  mutiny  on  one  of 
the  vessels  of  our  navy,  and  the  leaders  of  the  crew  seem 
to  have  followed  the  conduct  described  by  Byron.  One 
of  that  mutinous  crew  was  Dr.  Spencer's  brother,  and 
for  his  participation  in  the  mutiny  he  was  hanged  at  the 
yard  arm.  These  facts  were  related  to  the  writer  on 
several  occasions  by  Dr.  Everett. 

In  the  account  books  kept  by  John  Dixon  there  is  an 
account  reading  "Doctor  Rutlidg"— "1832,  May  91, 
commenced, ' '  but  there  is  nothing  showing  what  was 
commenced  or  how  long  it  was  continued,  nor  is  there 
any  amount  charged.  Following  this  is  the  last  entry — 
"Dinner  for  six  men  $1.50,"  but  it  is  without  date.  There 
are  several  charges,  beginning  December  25,  1834,  and 
ending  March  30,  1835,  against  "Dr.  Evans,"  for  letters, 
evidently  meaning  the  postage  on  letters.  The  books 
give  no  other  information  of  these  men,  or  either  of  them. 

As  Dr.  Everett  made  his  home  in  Dixon  in  1836  and 
remained  there  for  more  than  fifty  years,  the  rest  of  his 
life,  he  is  entitled  to  be  called  the  first  physician  in  Lee 
county. 


EARLY  POLITICS. 

The  Northwestern  Gazette  &  Galena  Advertiser  says 
that  at  an  election  in  August,  1836,  the  vote  in  the  Dixon 
precinct  of  Ogle  county  for  members  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  was,  Elijah  Charles  (elected),  10;  Lu- 
ther H.  Bowen  of  Savanna,  10;  John  Turney  of  Galena, 
10;  James  Craig  (elected),  8,  and Bennett,  1. 


At  the  congressional  election  in  1838  the  Third  district, 
containing  the  thriving  towns  of  Decatur,  Springfield, 
Quincy,  Bloomington,  Galena  and  Chicago,  had  two  candi- 
dates— John  T.  Stuart,  Whig,  and  Stephen  A.  Douglas, 
Democrat.  Andreas'  History  of  Chicago  says  Douglas 
received  18,337,  Stuart  18,405.  C.  C.  Brown,  vol.  7,  p. 
110,  Publications,  Illinois  Historical  Library,  says  the 
total  vote  was  36,461,  and  Stuart's  majority  14.  Dr.  J.  F. 
Snyder,  in  his  article  upon  James  H.  Ralston  (Publica- 
tions 111.  State  His.  Soc.,  v.  13,  p.  223)  says  Douglas  had 
18,213  votes  and  Stuart  18,248. 

The  Sangamon  Journal  (Springfield)  of  September  8, 
1838,  says  the  official  vote  was  Douglas  17730,  Stuart 
17807. 

The  Illinois  State  Register  and  People's  Advocate 
(Vandalia)  of  October  12, 1838,  says  the  official  vote,  "as 
corrected,"  was  Douglas  18242,  Stuart  18247,  and  that 
the  vote  in  Ogle  county  was  Douglas  273,  Stuart  532. 

In  a  letter  dated  November  10,  1884,  J.  Young  Scam- 
mon  writes  to  the  Inter  Ocean  that  "  Douglas  was  in- 
Chicago  on  the  day  of  the  election,  and  he  received  so 
large  a  vote  in  Cook  County  that  he  had  no  doubt  of  his 
election.  He  was  so  elated  that  when  he  started  for 
Jacksonville,  where  he  then  resided,  he  took  his  seat  on 
the  front  of  the  stage  with  the  driver,  and  traveled  on 
down  to  Lockport,  receiving  the  congratulations  of  his 

(114) 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  115 

friends  on  the  way.  When  he  got  to  the  latter  place 
he  found  that  the  canal  men  and  hands  had  voted  against 
him  because  in  the  Legislature  he  was  in  favor  of  the 
'shallow  cut,'  and  opposed  to  a  deep  canal.  Mr.  E.  B. 
Talcott  was  then  an  assistant  engineer  on  the  canal 
works  and  resided  in  Lockport,  He  engineered  the  bolt 
and  induced  the  scratching  of  Douglas'  name  from  Dem- 
ocratic tickets  and  substituting  Stuart's.  This  was  a 
discouraging  aspect  of  the  case,  but  as  Douglas  pro- 
ceeded southward  on  his  journey  he  found  that  this  de- 
fection did  not  extend  far  below  Lockport,  and  that 
Ottawa  and  Peru  and  the  residue  of  the  canal  regions 
had  given  him  the  usual  democratic  majorities.  But 
when  he  arrived  at  Peoria,  which  was  then  the  central 
point  whence  the  stages  converged,  he  found  that  the 
military  tract  was  less  favorable  to  him  than  he  had  ex- 
pected, and  the  belief  was  there  that  Stuart  was  elected 
by  a  small  majority.  It  was  so  close,  however,  that  the 
result  was  claimed  by  both  parties,  and  doubt  was  not 
removed  until  the  official  returns  reached  the  office  of 
the  Secretary  of  State,  which  showed  that  Douglas  was 
elected  by  8  majority.  Mr.  James  Matheny,  who  was 
at  that  time  a  young  and  very  ardent  Whig,  said  he 
believed  'the  Democrats  had  been  cheating  us,'  and  if 
any  one  would  pay  his  expenses  he  would  saddle  his 
horse  in  the  morning  and  go  to  every  county-seat  and 
examine  the  poll-books.  Mr.  Stuart  paid  his  expenses 
and  he  made  the  examination,  traveling  over  the  whole 
district  and  examining  all  the  poll-books.  He  found 
quite  a  number  of  errors,  but  they  all  canceled  each  other, 
except  in  one  precinct,  where  the  poll-book  showed  that 
in  carrying  over  Stuart's  vote  from  one  page  where  he 
had  a  majority  his  votes  were  put  in  the  Douglas  column 
on  the  next  page,  and  Douglas'  into  his.  Correcting  this 
mistake  the  decision  of  the  returns  was  reversed,  and 
Stuart  elected  by  twelve  or  thirteen  votes.  This  was 


116  S.  A.  DOUGLASS 

done  and  the  facts  certified  to  the  Secretary  of  State, 
and  Stuart  got  the  certificate." 

Scammon  says  that  the  voting  was  viva  voce,  and  that 
is  the  fact,  no  ballots  being  cast,  and  no  ballot  box  .being 
used,  so  his  reference  to  scratched  tickets  is  incompre- 
hensible. 

Frederick  R.  Dutcher,  who  was  then  living  in  Dixon, 
discovered  an  error  in  the  addition  of  the  votes  in  the 
precincts  in  Lee  county,  and  he  promptly  made  his 
discovery  known  to  John  S.  Roberts  of  Springfield,  who, 
in  turn,  laid  the  matter  before  Douglas.  In  a  few  days 
Dutcher  received  the  following  letter: 

Springfield,  Oct.  2d,  1839. 
DEAR  SIR: 

Mr.  Roberts  has  just  placed  in  my  hands  a  letter 
from  you  show  a  mistake  in  the  Poll  Book  of  your 
precinct  of  3  votes.  Every  vote  is  importan  at  this 
crisis.  You  have  my  grateful  acknowledgements  for 
the  kindness  you  have  already  shown.  But  I  must 
ask  of  you  the  favor  to  carefully  add  up  the  votes 
in  each  of  the  other  precincts  and  see  if  there  have 
been  no  mistakes  in  the  addition  of  them  by  the 
Clerks  &  Judges.  This  can  all  be  done  at  the  Clerk's 
office  where  you  will  find  all  the  Poll  Books  of  the 
county.  When  you  shall  have  examined  all  the  Poll 
Books  I  wish  you  would  get  the  Clerk  of  the  Co 
Comrs  Court  to  call  to  his  assistance  two  Justices 
of  the  Peace  &  to  make  a  new  return  correcting  the 
mistakes,  This  has  been  done  in  many  other  coun- 
ties and  will  be  in  all  soon.  It  is  important  that  this 
should  be  attended  to  immediately  as  the  time  is  fast 
approaching  when  I  must  leave  for  Washington. 
Please  send  the  names  of  the  illegal  voters  and  also 
the  witness  by  whom  they  can  be  proven  to  be 
illegal.  I  am  with  great  respect 

your  friend, 

S.  A.  DOUGLASS. 
F.  R.  Dutcher,  Esq., 
Dixon,  Lee  Co., 
111. 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  117 

Butcher  immediately  re-examined  the  Lee  county  books 
and  then  carefully  examined  the  books  in  Ogle,  White- 
side  and  Carroll,  only  to  find  that  the  errors  there  coun- 
terbalanced. 

The  great  majority  of  the  electors  in  the  Dixon  pre: 
cinct  voted  for  Stuart,  in  retaliation  upon  Douglas  for 
his  support  of  John  Phelps  in  the  fight  for  the  county 
seat. 


The  first  political  convention  held  in  Lee  county  con- 
vened in  November,  1839,  and  was  due  to  the  activities 
of  Frederick  R.  Dutcher.  He  received  the  following  let- 
ter in  October  of  that  year: 

SIR: 

The  State  Central  Corresponding  Committee  have 
deemed  it  advisable  to  call  a  State  Convention  of  the 
Democratic  Party,  at  Springfield,  on  the  2d  Monday 
in  December  next,  for  the  purpose  of  adopting  a 
more  efficient  system  of  organization,  and  also  to 
nominate  candidates  for  Presidential  Electors.  The 
propriety  of  this  measure  has  been  pressed  upon 
the  consideration  of  the  Committee  by  many  of  our 
friends  from  different  parts  of  the  State,  and  its 
necessity  is  rendered  the  more  urgent  by  the  zealous, 
energetic,  concerted  movements  of  the  Federal  party 
in  this  State.  That  Party  has  recently  held  a  State 
Convention  in  this  place;  has  adopted  an  efficient 
system  of  organization,  with  their  State,  County 
and  Precinct  Committees ;  have  nominated  their  Can- 
didates for  Presidential  Electors ;  and  have  instruct- 
ed those  Candidates  to  mount  the  stump,  and  har- 
rangue  the  people  wherever  they  can  find  them  as- 
sembled; and,  in  short,  are  prepared  for  and  have 
avowed  their  determination  to  make  a  vigorous  and 
determined  effort  for  the  prostration  of  Democratic 
principles,  and  the  ascendancy  of  Federal  Whiggery, 
in  this  State,  and  the  Nation.  The  result  of  such 
an  issue  we  do  not  doubt  or  fear.  We  are  willing 
and  ought  to  be  prepared  to  meet  them  boldly  and 


118  CALL  FOR  STATE  CONVENTION 

fearlessly  upon  their  own  ground,  and  fight  them 
in  the  manner,  and  upon  the  issue  they  have  formed. 
For  the  purpose  of  being  fully  prepared  for  the 
contest,  equally  well  organized,  and  upon  an  equal 
footing  at  the  opening  of  the  campaign,  you  are  re- 
quested to  immediately  consult  with  our  friends,  and 
call  a  meeting  in  your  county,  and  appoint  delegates 
to  the  proposed  Convention. 

Each  County  is  requested  to  send  a  number  of 
Delegates  at  least  double  the  number  of  their  Sena- 
tors and  Representatives  in  the  General  Assembly; 
and  each  County,  no  matter  how  small,  two  Dele- 
gates, and  as  many  more  as  it  chooses. 

As  our  Government  is  emphatically  a  Government 
of  the  People,  deriving  its  existence  from  them,  we 
would  recommend  an  expression  of  opinion  in  your 
Resolutions  upon  the  subjects  that  agitate  the  coun- 
try, and  upon  the  following,  particularly: 

1st,     The  Constitutional  Treasury  Bill,  as  rec- 
ommended by  President  Van  Buren. 
2d.     A  National  Bank,  as  recommended  by  Mr. 

Clay. 

3d.  The  GAG  BILL,  depriving  officers  of  the 
right  of  speech,  as  introduced  by  Mr.  Crit- 
tenden,  in  the  U.  S.  Senate,  and  by  Mr.  Otwell, 
in  the  Illinois  Legislature. 

4th.     The  Repeal  of  the  Salt  Tax  and  the  sup- 
pression of  the  Salt  Monopoly,  as  recommend- 
ed by  Mr.  Benton,  Mr.  Woodbury,  and  other 
distinguished  Democrats  in  Congress. 
5th.     The  right  of  the  Governor  to  nominate  a 
Secretary  of  State,  as  provided  by  the  Con- 
stitution, and  exercised  by  Gov.  Carlin. 
6th.     The  decision   of  the   Supreme   Court  in- 
stalling A.  P.  Field  in  office  for  life. 

An  expression  of  opinion  upon  the  above,  and 
such  other  subjects  as  shall  occur  to  you  as  import- 
ant to  the  country,  is  desired  in  order  that  the  Dele- 
gates may  bring  with  them  the  sentiments  of  the 
people  upon  these  interesting  questions. 

We  would  further  recommend  that  at  your  meet- 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  119 

ings  you  appoint  a  Corresponding  Committee  for 
your  County,  at  or  near  the  County  Seat,  to  consist 
of  three  persons,  and  also  9.  Committee  of  Vigilance 
of  three  persons  in  each  Justice's  Precinct  of  your 
County,  to  continue  as  permanent  Committees  until 
others  shall  be  appointed,  and  to  be  composed  of 
sound  and  efficient  Democrats,  who  will  use  all  fair 
and  honorable  means  to  sustain  the  Principles  and 
Candidates  of  the  Democratic  Party.  You  will 
please  forward  the  proceedings  of  your  meeting  to 
the  State  Register,  at  this  place,  and  to  the  other 
nearest  Democratic  paper,  for  publication.  We  are 
very  respectfully  your  fellow  citizens. 

VIRGIL  HICKOX, 
JOHN  TAYLOR, 
ROBERT  ALLEN, 
JOHN  CALHOUN, 
CHARLES  R.  HURST, 
JOHN  S.  ROBERTS, 
DAVID  PRICKETT, 
Corresponding  Committee. 

Springfield,  October  10,  1839. 

Butcher  consulted  with  some  of  his  fellow  Democrats 
and  formed  a  committee  that  called  a  county  convention 
and  then  organized  a  precinct  committee  that  issued  the 
following : 

''NOTICE 

A  meeting  of  the  democratic  party  of  the  Dixon 
precinct  will  be  held  at  the  Western  Hotel  on  Friday 
15th  inst  at  6  o'clock  P  M  for  the  purpose  of  ap- 
pointing four  delegates  to  meet  at  the  same  place  on 
the  16th  inst  at  12  o'clock  to  meet  delegates  from 
the  different  precincts  of  this  County  to  appoint  del- 
agates  to  meet  the  State  Convention  to  be  held  at 
Springfield  on  the  2nd  Monday  in  December  next  for 
the  purpose  of  nominating  Candidates  for  the  Pres- 
idential Electors  and  such  other  business  as  may 
be  deamed  necessary  for  the  better  organising  the 
Democratic  .party  of  this  County  also  pass  resilu- 


120  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION 

tions  reliteve  to  the  Questions  in  a  certain  letter 
reed  from  the  State  Corresponding  Committee. 
.  FREDERICK  B.  DUTCHER, 
HARVEY  MORGAN, 
DANIEL  FROST, 

Corresponding  Committee. 
Dixon  Nov  14th  1839." 

No  record  of  the  other  proceedings  of  this  precinct 
committee  was  preserved.  The  record  of  the  county  con- 
vention still  exists  and  it  reads  thus: 

"At  a  Democratic  meeting  of  Delegates  appointed 
from  each  precinct  pursuant  to  a  call  from  the  Cen- 
tral Corresponding  Committee  of  Lee  county  con- 
vened at  the  Western  Hotel  in  Dixon  the  16th  inst 
at  12  o'clock  for  the  purpose  of  appointing  delegates 
to  attend  the  State  Convention  at  Springfield  on  the 
2d  Monday  in  December  next — and  such  other  busi- 
ness as  might  be  deemed  necessary. 

Samuel  Johnston  was  called  to  the  chair  &  Fred- 
erick B  Dutcher  appointed  secretary 

The  object  of  the  meeting  having  been  stated  by 
the  chair 

Besolved  that  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed 
by  the  chair  to  recommend  to  this  meeting  suitable 
,  delegates  to  attend  the  State  convention  at  Spring- 
field and  Draft  resolutions  expressive  of  the  views 
of  this  meeting. 

The  following  persons  composed  said  committee 
Wm.  P  Burroughs 
Daniel  Frost 

Jeremiah  Whipple 

who  after  retiring  a  short  time  made  the  following 
report,  which  was  unanimously  adopted— 

Whereas  a  crisis  now  exists  in  this  nation,  which 
every  true  republican  must  feel  the  Importance  of 
to  the  Democratic  party,  and  whereas  we  believe  the 
principles  adopted  by  Martin  Van  Buren  are  the 
true  principles  of  the  party  and  should  be  supported 
by  every  true  Democrat,  Therefore  Besolved  that 
the  delegates  to  Springfield  to  nominate  candidates 
for  presidential  electors  be  instructed  to  vote  for 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  121 

such  men  as  will  support  the  principles  of  the  pres- 
ent administration— 

1st.  Kesolved,  That  the  Subtreasury  Scheme  is 
the  true  method  of  receiving  and  disbursing  the 
Public  Revinue,  also  that  it  is  the  duty  of  every  true 
Democrat  to  sustain  Martin  Van  Buren  for  the  next 
presidency  in  order  that  he  may  more  fully  carry 
out  the  views  of  the  administration  Party — 

2d.  Resolved,  That  we  believe  it  is  the  duty  of 
the  Democratic  party  in  this  State  to  be  more  cau- 
tious in  appointing  men  in  office  as  it  appears  that  a 
majority  of  Democratic  appointments  are  conserva- 
tives and  Whigs  and  that  none  but  true  and  Tryed 
Democrats  should  Receive  Important  appointments 
to  office  from  the  Democratic  Republicans  of  this 
State. 

3d.  Resolved,  that  in  nominating  John  A.  Mc- 
Clernand  Secretary  of  State  Gov  Carlin  exercised 
the  right  guaranteed  him  by  the  constitution  of  this 
State,  and  should  be  supported  by  every  true  Dem- 
ocrat. 

4th.  Resolved,  That  the  decision  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  this  State  installing  A  P  Field  in  the  office 
of  Secretary  of  State  for  life  is  both  unconstitutional 
and  entirely  at  variance  with  the  principles  of  Re- 
publican Institutions. 

5th.  Resolved,  that  the  Sistem  of  plundering  and 
Swindling  carried  on  by  the  Banks  throughout  the 
union  has  been  the  means  of  building  up  an  aristo- 
cratic party,  styling  themselves  Whigs,  and  that  we 
predict  the  downfall  of  Federal  Whigery,  and  their 
handmaids,  whenever  the  Political  jugling  of  the 
one,  and  the  corruption  of  the  other,  shall  be  more 
apparent  to  the  Honest  Yeomanry  of  the  country. 

6th.  Resolved,  that  the  transactions  of  the  State 
Bank  of  Illinois  have  become  oppressive  to  the  ma- 
jority of  the  people,  extending  discounts  to  the  few 
for  Political  effect  and  agrandisement,  also  Resolved 
that  we  believe  the  charter  should  be  repealed,  and  a 
more  equal  and  efficient  sistem  of  Banking  Intro- 
duced. 


122  WHIG   CONVENTION 

The  following  delegates  to  meet  at  Springfield  the 
2d  Monday  in  December  were  then  appointed 
Frederick  R  Butcher 
Win.  P  Burroughs 
Edward  Southwick 

Resolved,  that  the  delegates  be  empower  to  fill 
vacancies  should  any  occur  in  their  number. 

Voted  that  the  proceedings  of  this  meeting  be 
signed  by  the  chairman  an  Secretary  and  published 
in  the  Chicago  &  Galena  Democrat  &  State  Register. 

SAMUEL  JOHNSTON,  chairman 
FREDERICK  R  DUTCHER,  Secretary." 

Dutcher  was  the  only  Lee  county  delegate  who  attended 
the  state  convention. 


The  Northwestern  Gazette  &  Galena  Advertiser  says 
the  Whigs  held  a  convention  at  Dixon  May  8,  1840,  and 
nominated  Thomas  Drummond  of  Galena,  for  many 
years  judge  of  the  United  States  courts,  and  Hiram  W. 
Thornton  of  Millersburgh,  Mercer  county,  a  land  agent 
and  lawyer  who  had  been  a  blacksmith,  for  members  of 
the  lower  house  of  the  legislature.  In  talking  with  me  of 
this  convention  E.  B.  Washburn  laid  emphasis  on  the 
fact  that  Thornton  was  a  blacksmith.  These  nominees 
were  elected. 

The  delegates  attending  from  Lee  county  were  Cyrus 
Chamberlain,  Thomas  McCabe,  Oliver  Everett,  G.  A. 
Martin,  John  Cutshaw,  H.  A.  Coe,  F.  W.  Coe,  Joseph 
Crawford,  J.  B.  Cutshaw,  Jeremiah  Murphy,  James  M. 
Santee,  W.  W.  Johnson,  John  Moss  and  David  Welty. 

The  Gazette,  of  a  later  day,  gives  this  much  of  the  vote : 

Van 

Drummond     Thornton     Campbell     Valzah 
Dixon  precinct      152  111 

Lee  county  254  256  201  212 

Thompson  Campbell,  a  Galena  lawyer,  afterwards  Sec- 
retary of  State,  later  a  member  of  Congress,  and  Dr. 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  123 

Van  Valzah,  one  of  the  first  of  the  Pennsylvanians  to 
settle  in  Stephenson  county,  were  the  Democratic  nomi- 
nees. 

o 

In  1842  the  vote  in  Lee  county  for  governor  was  Ford, 
Democrat,  237;  Duncan,  Whig,  238;  Hunter,  Free  Soil, 
7;  for  lieutenant  governor,  Moore,  Democrat,  236;  Hen- 
derson, Whig,  254;  Collins,  Free  Soil,  7. 

In  1844  the  vote  in  Lee  county  was  Polk,  315 ;  Clay,  244 ; 
Birney,  48. 


The  Democrats  of  the  Second  Congressional  district, 
comprising  Cook,  De  Kalb,  Du  Page,  Kane,  Lee,  Rock  Is- 
land and  Whiteside  counties,  held  their  convention  in 
Dixon  on  the  fifteenth  of  September,  1852,  Col.  John  De- 
ment being  the  chairman.  The  delegates  from  Lee  county 
were  John  Dement,  John  V,  Eustace,  Richard  F.  Adams, 
John  Gilmore  and  Hiram  Wood.  The  nominee  was  John 
Wentworth  of  Chicago,  and  he  was  elected,  by  a  vote  of 
7538  to  6437  for  Cyrus  Aldrich  of  Lee,  the  Whig  and  2149 
for  James  H.  Collins  of  Chicago  the  Abolition  candidates. 
The  vote  in  Lee  county  was  Wentworth  508,  Aldrich  565, 
Collins  55. 


AMBOY. 

From  a  private  letter,  written  by  one  of  her  pioneer 
business  men,  the  following  is  quoted  to  show  some  inci- 
dents in  Amboy's  beginning: 

Greenwich,  Mass.,  Nov.  14th,  1854. 
ALFRED  E.  PATTEN, 
Osceola,  Iowa. 

I  am  writing  you  sitting  in  my  chair  with  my  port- 
folio in  my  lap,  as  I  do  not  feel  able  to  bend  over  a 

table. 

******* 

I  will  commence  at  the  time  we  separated  at  Al- 
bany. I  regret  that  you  had  promised  to  go  to 
Clarke  County,  Iowa,  for  I  thought  you  might  do 
just  as  well  in  111.,  but  to  my  doings.  Chann 
and  myself  took  horse  and  buggy  the  next  day  after 
you  left,  in  search  of  a  location  for  the  business  we 
talked  of  and  to  see  the  country,  likewise  we  spent 
about  one  week  in  riding  and  of  course  saw  a  good 
deal  of  the  country  between  Albany  and  Chicago. 
I  think  I  am  pretty  well  posted  in  the  matter.  The 
country  a  little  back  and  north  of  Albany  is  quite 
rolling,  though  not  quite  so  much  as  back  of  Albany 
where  we  went.  I  presume  it  would  not  have  been  as 
rolling  if  we  had  gone  six  or  eight  miles  farther  to 
the  east.  You  may  depend  that  the  land  back  of  Al- 
bany in  that  country  to  Sterling  on  Kock  River  will 
be  the  best  wheat  lands  at  present  of  any  in  Northern 
Illinois,  and  still  it  is  not  one-tenth  part  broken  or 
fenced  as  yet.  I  tell  you  the  country  is  most  beau- 
tiful from  Albany  to  Sterling.  I  crossed  it  twice. 
Well,  the  first  night  we  staid  with  Hyram  Fish.  He 
married  Mr.  Sprout 's  daughter  of  our  place  you  know. 
We  had  a  special  time  of  it  you  may  depend.  He 
lives  at  Gap  Grove  and  has  a  little  bit  of  a  house, 
nice  and  cozy  though  old.  You  will  recollect  he  is 
the  man  that  must  have  a  nice  horse  and  buggy.  He 
built  the  cottage  adjoining  his  father's  house,  but 
things  are  changed.  He  kicked  up  his  heels  in  great 
glee  at  seeing  me,  offered  such  as  he  had,  said  that 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  125 

was  good  enough  and  would  not  put  himself  out  a 
cents  worth  for  us.  Well  he  enjoys  himself  and  no 
mistake.  He  lives  on  the  main  road  from  Dixon  to 
Albany,  Fulton  City,  etc.  He  has  80  acres  I  think 
of  land.  Bought  it  two  years  ago  for  6  or  8  per  acre, 
now  worth  $25.  to  $35.  per  acre.  He  lives  in  plain 
sight  of  A.  Powers'  place.  W.  Town  staid  with  us 
at  Fish's.  He  was  just  starting  for  Minnesota,  bag 
and  baggage.  He  wants  to  make  a  fortune  in  a  day, 
but  don't  know  how  to  do  it,  wants  to  do  it  without 
work.  We  started  next  morning  for  Dixon  and  so  on 
down  the  Illinois  Central  R.  R.  After  traveling  some 
12  miles  southeast  of  Dixon  we  ran  unexpectedly  on 
a  place  by  the  name  of  Amboy.  When  we  first  saw 
it,  it  struck  my  fancy,  for  we  were  on  quite  an  eleva- 
tion and  looked  down  upon  it,  it  looked  fine.  We 
were  on  our  way  for  Mendota  17  miles  south  at  the 
junction  of  the  Military  Track  and  Illinois  Central. 
I  told  Chan.  I  would  have  a  lot  or  so  whether  or  not, 
before  we  got  there  (that  is  Amboy),  and  in  great 
glee  we  decended  a  slope  of  one-half  mile  or  so  to 
the  tavern  and  depot.  The  company  have  laid  out 
a  good  deal  of  expense  here  already.  The  tavern 
which  belongs  to  the  company  cost  some  twelve  thou- 
sands. This  was  finished  when  I  was  there  the  last 
time  and  would  be  opened  the  next  week.  It  is  a 
fine  affair.  I  went  pretty  much  over  it  and  into  the 
observatory  on  the  top  of  it.  They  have  a  large 
freight  house  done,  likewise  a  very  large  roundhouse 
capable  of  holding  23  engines  at  once  with  a  very 
large  turn-table  in  the  center.  The  track  work  is 
done  to  this  likewise  but  the  top  is  not  on.  Their 
buildings  when  all  done  will  cover  several  acres  and 
all  of  brick.  They  calculate  to  employ  some  three 
hundred  hands.  It  is  said  they  intend  to  make  this 
a  kind  of  shifting  station  for  engineers  and  engines. 
They  will  stop  for  meals  also.  There  are  other  ex- 
pectations, though  they  may  not  be  realized.  The 
greatest  is,  that  the  County  Seat  will  be  removed 
from  Dixon  to  Amboy.  Dixon  is  in  the  edge  of  Lee 
County,  only  one  town  between  it  and  the  two  other 
Counties,  and  Amboy  is  within  one  mile  or  so  of  the 
exact  center.  The  Company  has  made  some  offers 


126  MENDOTA 

of  lands  already  and  the  tug  of  war  will  soon  come, 
and  a  tug  it  will  be,  as  Dixon  is  quite  a  large  place 
and  plenty  of  money  to  spend  in  such  business.  But 
the  middle  and  southern  portion  of  the  county  is 
getting  quite  thickly  settled  and  if  true  to  them- 
selves, will  out-vote  the  influence  of  Dixon.  They 
had  a  trial  two  or  three  years  ago  to  get  it  at  a 
little  place  five  miles  from  here  called  Lee  Center 
but  could  not  out-vote  Dixon  influence,  but  things 
are  different  now.  I  bought  the  first  day  I  was  there 
one  lot  on  Main  Street  about  12  or  15  rods  from  the 
Depot.  I  paid  $175.  for  it,  bought  it  second  hand, 
could  have  taken  $200.  for  it  before  I  left,  size  of  lot 
50  feet  front  160  back.  We  went  down  to  Mendota 
and  staid  a  day.  I  say  down  for  it  is  300  feet  lower 
than  Amboy  though  on  pretty  much  the  same  kind 
of  land.  Well  it  is  one  of  the  places  we  read  of.  One 
year  ago  there  was,  I  think,  not  a  house  in  the  place, 
now  I  should  think  there  was  150  of  all  shapes  and 
sizes  and  three  taverns.  They  were  all  full  and  I 
saw  that  many  slept  in  cars  where  the  seats  had  been 
taken  out.  I  saw  a  large  tent  full  besides,  but  I 
think  it  must  be  an  unhealthy  place  and  awful  muddy. 
Amboy  will  be  muddy  enough  for  that  matter. 

The  country  around  both  places  is  much  richer 
than  Whiteside  County,  most  too  rich  for  wheat  at 
present,  though  they  raise  good  spring  wheat. 
Around  Dixon  it  is  quite  sandy  and  some  of  the  soil 
poor.  I  think  I  would  like  a  farm  here  but  I  do  not 
know  but  it  would  come  too  high.  Lands  have  been 
offered  here  or  within  5  or  6  miles  for  $7  and  $8  per 
acre  with  considerable  improvements,  but  I  don't 
suppose  it  will  be  my  luck  to  find  any  such.  Land 
will  be  high,  very  high,  within  say  five  years,  at  least 
$25  per  acre.  I  did  not  ride  around  Amboy  as  I 
now  wished  I  had.  It  lays  like  this,  Binghamton 
quite  a  place  one  mile  east  on  a  branch  of  Green 
River.  It  has  one  flowering  mill,  school  house  and 
a  little  meeting  house.  Rockyford  is  one  mile  west. 
Lee  Center  5  miles  north  and  the  old  town  of  Amboy 
a  few  miles  northwest.  So  you  will  see  that  the  coun- 
try will  soon  be  thickly  settled  and  now  is  my  time 
if  ever  here.  Last  time,  there  was  in  Amboy  only  two 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  127 

houses  and  two  barns.  This  time  most  of  the  lots 
are  probably  sold.  There  was  several  little  houses 
up  when  I  was  there,  one  blacksmith  shop,  three 
stores  and  lots  ready  to  build  as  soon  as  the -rail- 
road got  in.  It  is  in  by  this  time.  When  we  returned 
to  Amboy  we  had  the  refusal  of  five  more  lots.  For 
one  fortnight  I  will  stay  here.  We  were  very  for- 
tunate in  coming  across  a  kind  of  cousin  of  yours 
and  an  own  cousin  of  Chan's.  Their  names  are  Clark. 
Uncle  Benj.  married  their  aunt.  One  of  them  is  boss 
of  the  carpenter  work  and  we  staid  with  him  while 
there.  Three  churches  have  sites  either  purchased 
or  given  in  the  place.  Now,  whether  all  or  half  of 
the  things  take  place  is  more  than  I  can  tell,  though 
all  looks  well.  I  do  not  think  it  will  make  so  much 
difference  in  our  business.  It  is  first  rate  every 
where  I  went.  In  returning  we  staid  one  night  with 
A.  Powers  and  went  over  his  farm.  He  has  a  good 
one,  600  acres,  worth  from  $25  to  $35  per  acre, 
that's  all.  The  night  I  was  there  it  rained  and  when 
we  started  next  morning  the  wind  blew  as  no  other 
winds,  but  these  western  winds  can  blow.  It  was 
very  cold  likewise  though  it  had  been  very  warm  pre- 
viously. We  rode  40  miles  that  day  and  without  eat- 
ing. When  we  got  home  we  found  ourselves  pretty 
badly  chilled.  I  was  griped  some  before  we  got  home. 
We  ate  supper  and  directly  after  I  had  an  attack 
of  cholic.  I  started  for  home  in  just  one  week 

from  the  time  I  had  the  cholic  for  I  was  very  anxious 
about  the  lots  at  Amboy  as  we  had  not  paid  for  them 
and  we  had  concluded  to  go  there.  At  first  I  thought 
it  would  cost  so  much  for  building  lots  that  we  could 
not  go  there,  but  after  calculating  I  thought  it  best. 
Our  business  lots  160  front  and  160  deep  cost  us 
$400,  half  down,  the  remainder  in  one  year,  and  so 
with  all  of  them.  These  lots  lay  directly  on  the 
railroad  and  a  switch  will  come  in  front.  The  street 
is  100  feet  wide  besides.  (Father  has  just  stepped 
into  my  room  with  the  news  that  Pelhem,  Prescott, 
Belchertown,  Enfield,  You-All-Know-Nothings.  In 
Greenwich  K.  N.  112,  Whig  22,  Dem.  8  I  think  F.  S. 
5.)  John  Powers  carried  me  to  Amboy  and  I  was 
just  on  time  to  save  the  lots.  The  next  day  I  started 


128  DIFFERENCE   IN   MARKETS 

for  home.  I  got  detained  twice  by  brake  downs  and 
in  my  weak  state  took  cold  and  come  home  with  fever 
which  has  completely  prostrated  me.  I  am  as  weak 
as  a  child  as  yet  and  I  write  you  but  a  line  or  two 
at  a  time.  I  mean  to  sell  at  any  rate  if  I  can.  If  I 
cannot  I  shall  hire  a  man  I  think  and  go  out  as  soon 
as  the  boys  get  ready  and  stay  through  the  season. 
****** 

I  have  any  amount  of  questions  I  would  like  to  ask 
you.  You  I  should  think  by  your  letter,  think  that 
Iowa  is  the  place  for  farming  because  the  land  is 
cheap  and  just  as  good  as  111.  though  you  did  not 
say  so.  Now  I  grant  that  land  is  as  good  (doubtful) 
in  Iowa  and  certainly  cheaper  than  it  is  in  111.  But 
now  I  would  like  to  ask  you  some  questions.  What 
is  corn  worth  as  a  general  thing  throughout  the  state  ? 
What  is  oats  worth  and  wheat,  etc.  Perhaps  emi- 
gration just  now  makes  a  market  there  or  at  least 
helps  it  considerable  but  that  will  not  last  long.  Now 
I  find  a  difference  between  Albany  market  and  Pow- 
ers market,  fifteen  cents  on  wheat  per  bushel  and 
everything  in  proportion  almost.  The  east  is  to  be 
the  great  market  for  grains  most  certainly,  and  the 
more  central,  and  certainly  the  nearest  to  market,  will 
be  the  most  valuable  country. 

Now  as  to  going  on  to  a  farm  not  improved  I  can- 
not see  much  gain,  especially  to  a  man  who  has  some 
means.  If  a  man  gets  a  farm  in  111.  with  a  little 
snug  house  and  barn  and  say  160  acres  of  land  with 
40  or  50  acres  improved,  he  can  break  up  the  re- 
mainder when  it  suits  his  convenience  and  fence  it  at 
odd  jobs.  Fencing  actually  costs  $1.00  per  rod  in 
my  opinion  everything  counted.  Iowa  market  may 
be  good  but  it  can  never  equal  111.  in  my  opinion. 
Many  have  been  out  from  111.  to  Iowa  and  have  come 
back  satisfied  that  land  is  as  high,  and  most  say 
higher  than  in  111.,  with  not  as  good  privileges.  I 
am  inclined  to  think  so  myself. 

There  are  other  things.  Society  in  111.  is  improv- 
ing rapidly  and  I  will  tell  you  now  eastern  people  are 
coming  in  with  means  to  buy  and  the  wondering  un- 
easy half  civilized  population  are  going  west.  This 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  129 

is  a  real  fact,  it  is  not  imagination.  There  are  many 
emigrants  going  from  Ind.  I  do  not  know  how  many 
I  asked  in  my  travels  where  they  were  from  and 
where  going.  The  answer  in  every  case  but  one  was 
from  Ind.  Where  bound  "To  Iowa  City."  Further 
than  that  they  did  not  know.  The  secret  is  the  Yan- 
kees are  coming  in  with  money  and  have  bought  them 
out.  The  same  thing  is  taking  place  in  Illinois  slowly. 
The  poorest  of  emigration  does  not  stop  in  Illinois 
much  now. 

Now  as  far  as  your  business  as  concerned,  that  is 
money-getting,  I  do  not  doubt  that  Iowa  is  the  place, 
and  if  you  can  get  the  right  place  (and  there  are 
places  enough)  you  can  do  better  than  farming  no 
doubt,  and  I  advise  you  to  go  into  it,  now  is  your 
time.  Almost  any  where,  one  if  rightly  situated  can 
get  rich  with  your  means.  I  mean  in  the  western 
country. 

I  must  close  this  long  letter  for  I  am  pretty  tired 
and  I  guess  you  will  be  by  the  time  you  wade  through 
it.  Write  me  a  good  long  letter  and  I  will  write  as 
long  a  one  in  return. 

Yours,  &c., 

R.  H.  MELLEN. 


THE  GENESIS  OF  LEE  COUNTY. 

Claiming  jurisdiction  by  right  of  conquest,  Virginia, 
upon  the  fifth  of  October,  1778,  passed  "An  Act  for 
establishing  the  County  of  Illinois,  and  for  the  more  ef- 
fectual protection  and  defense  thereof,"  which  enacted 
''that  all  the  citizens  of  this  commonwealth  who  are 
already  settled,  or  shall  hereafter  settle  on  the  western 
side  of  the  Ohio  river,  shall  be  included  in  a  distinct 
county  which  shall  be  called  Illinois  County." 

When  St.  Clair  county,  our  first  county,  was  formed, 
April,  1790,  by  the  proclamation  of  Arthur  St.  Clair, 
Governor  of  the  Territory  of  the  United  States  North- 
west of  the  River  Ohio,  it  included  all  the  country  be- 
tween the  Illinois,  Mississippi  and  Ohio  rivers  and  a  line 
drawn  from  the  Illinois  at  the  mouth  of  the  Little  Macki- 
naw, a  few  miles  below  Pekin,  to  the  Ohio  at  the  mouth 
of  a  small  stream  a  short  distance  above  Fort  Massac 
which  stood  at  the  eastern  edge  of  Metropolis  City.  (St. 
Clair  Papers.) 

Knox  county,  now  entirely  within  Indiana,  was  estab- 
lished the  twentieth  of  the  following  June  and  embraced, 
with  parts  of  Indiana,  Ohio  and  Michigan,  all  the  terri- 
tory in  our  state  east  of  St.  Clair  and  the  Illinois  river 
to  the  confluence  of  the  Kankakee  and  Des  Plaines  and 
a  line  due  north  from  that  point.  (St.  Clair  Papers.) 

Randolph  was  created  by  proclamation  October  5th, 
1795,  and  included  all  the  territory  south  of  a  line  drawn 
from  the  Mississippi  through  Cove  Spring  (near  Water- 
loo) to  the  Knox  county  line;  thence  along  Knox  to  the 
Ohio.  (St.  Clair  Papers.) 

On  August  25,  1796,  Governor  St.  Clair  created  the 
Wayne  county  that  is  now  wholly  within  Ohio,  giving 
it,  with  other  territory,  all  of  Illinois  north  and  east  of  a 
line  running  from  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  "westnortherly 
to  the  most  southern  part  of  Lake  Michigan ;  thence  along 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  131 

the  western  shore  of  the  same  to  the  northwest  part 
thereof  (including  the  lands  upon  the  streams  emptying 
into  said  lake) ;  thence  by  a  due  north  line  to  the  terri- 
torial boundary  in  Lake  Superior."  (Douglass'  History 
of  Wayne  County,  Ohio.) 

On  the  third  of  February,  1801,  Governor  William  H. 
Harrison  of  Indiana  Territory  fixed  Randolph's  bound- 
aries by  a  line  beginning  "on  the  Ohio  river  at  a  place 
called  the  Great  Cave,  below  the  Saline  Lick;  thence  by 
a  direct  north  line  until  it  intersects  an  east  and  west 
line  running  from  the  Mississippi  through  the  Sink  Hole 
Spring;  thence  along  said  line  to  the  Mississippi;  thence 
down  the  Mississippi  to  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio,  and  up 
the  Ohio  to  the  place  of  beginning."  (Ind.  His.  Soc.  Pub. 
3,  p.  98.)  The  Great  Cave  is  in  Hardin  county,  and  is 
now  known  as  Cave-in-Bock.  The  Sink  Hole  Spring  was 
nearly  on  the  present  Randolph-St.  Clair  line.  (Beck- 
with,  History  of  Vermilion  County.) 

January  24,  1803,  Governor  Harrison,  by  proclama- 
tion, created  the  Wayne  county  that  is  now  wholly  within 
Michigan,  and  placed  in  it  all  that  part  of  Illinois  north 
and  east  of  lines  drawn  "through  the  southerly  extreme" 
and  "the  most  westerly  .bend  of"  Lake  Michigan,  (hid. 
His.  Soc.  Pub.  vol.  3,  p.  115.) 

On  March  25,  1803,  he  fixed  the  line  between  Randolph 
and  St.  Clair  at  one  drawn  from  the  Mississippi  "four 
miles  and  thirty-two  chains  south  of  the  point  where  the 
present  division  line  intersects  the  Mississippi  bottom; 
thence  by  a  direct  line  to  the  Sink  Hole  Springs;  thence 
by  a  line  north,  sixty  degrees  east,  until  it  intersects  a 
north  line  running  from  the  Great  Cave  on  the  Ohio." 
This  order,  however,  was  not  to  be  effective  until  the 
first  of  the  following  May.  (Ind.  His.  Soc.  Pub.  3,  p.  118.) 

This  line  was  adopted  and  confirmed  by  an  order  of 
Nathaniel  Pope,  Secretary  and  Acting  Governor  of  Illi- 


132  EDWARDS  COUNTY 

nois  Territory,  April  28, 1809.    (III.  St.  His.  Library  Pub. 
3,  pp.  3,  4.) 

On  the  14th  of  September,  1812,  Governor  Ninian 
Edwards  of  Illinois  Territory  issued  a  proclamation  cre- 
ating three  new  counties,  Madison,  Gallatin  and  Johnson. 
Madison  was  given  all  the  territory  north  of  the  ' '  second 
township  line  above  Cahokia,"  its  present  south  line  and 
its  extension  east  to  Indiana. 

The  first  county  formed  by  legislation  in  the  Territory 
of  Illinois  is  Edwards,  and  it  was  created  by  "An  Act 
for  the  division  of  Gallatin  county,"  passed  November 
28,  1814,  which  provides  "that  all  that  tract  of  land 
within  the  following  boundaries  (to  wit)  beginning  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Bompas  creek  on  the  Big  Wabash  and  run- 
ning thence  due  west  to  the  meridian  line  which  runs 
due  north  from  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio  river ;  thence  with 
said  meridian  line  and  due  north  'till  it  strikes  the  line 
of  Upper  Canada ;  thence  with  the  line  of  Upper  Canada 
to  the  line  that  separates  this  territory  from  the  Indiana 
Territory;  and  thence  with  the  said  dividing  line  to  the 
beginning  shall  constitute  a  separate  county  to  be  called 
Edwards."  The  south  line  of  Edwards  has  been  short- 
ened, .but  not  changed  otherwise. 

The  "Act  for  the  division  of  Edwards  county,"  in 
force  December  31,  1816,  created  Crawford  and  gave  it 
that  part  of  Edwards  north  of  a  line  beginning  at  the 
mouth  of  Embarrass  river,  and  running  with  said  river 
to  the  intersection  of  the  line  dividing  townships  three 
and  four  north,  range  eleven  west  of  the  second  principal 
meridian;  thence  west  with  the  township  line  to  the 
meridian. 

The  "Act  forming  a  new  county  out  of  the  county  of 
Madison,"  approved  January  4,  1817,  created  Bond  and 
gave  it  the  territory  north  of  the  St.  Clair-Madison  line 
extended  to  the  third  principal  meridian  that  is  west  of 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  133 

the  meridian  and  east  of  the  Mason-Logan  line  extended 
from  Wisconsin  to  the  southeast  corner  of  Madison. 

That  part  of  Crawford  lying  north  of  the  line  dividing 
townships  eight  and  nine  north  was  cut  off  by  the  "Act 
forming  a  new  county  out  of  the  county  of  Crawford," 
approved  March  22,  1819,  and  formed  into  the  county  of 
Clark. 

The  "Act  establishing  the  County  of  Greene,"  ap- 
proved January  20,  1821,  gave  that  county  the  country 
in  the  present  Greene  and  Jersey,  and  attached  to  it  the 
territory  within  a  line  running  from  the  southwest  corner 
of  the  present  Macoupin  to  the  southeast  corner  of 
Macoupin;  thence  north  to  the  northeast  corner  of  that 
county ;  thence  west  twelve  miles ;  thence  along  the  prairie 
between  the  waters  of  the  Mauvaise  Terre  and  the  San- 
gamon  to  the  head  of  Balance  creek,  and  down  that  creek 
and  the  Illinois  to  Greene  and  along  its  northern  and 
eastern  boundaries  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

The  "Act  establishing  the  County  of  Sangamon,"  ap- 
proved January  30,  1821,  gave  that  county  the  territory 
north  of  township  twelve,  north,  bounded  by  the  Illinois, 
the  third  principal  meridian  and  Greene 's  attached  terri- 
tory. 

The  greater  part  of  the  territory  south  of  a  line  from 
the  Mississippi  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Rock  Island 
County  east  on  the  north  line  of  township  fifteen,  fourth 
principal  meridian,  to  the  Illinois  river,  near  DePue,  was 
set  aside  for  entry  under  land  warrants  given  to  the 
veterans  of  our  wars,  and  this  circumstance  fastened  upon 
it  the  name  of  the  "Military  Tract,"  or  "Bounty  Land," 
which  it  still  bears. 

The  "Act  to  form  a  new  county  on  the  bounty  lands," 
approved  January  31,  1821,  created  Pike  and  gave  it  a 
boundary  line  beginning  at  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois  river 
and  running  thence  up  that  river  to  its  forks ;  and  thence 
up  the  south  fork  to  the  Indiana  line;  along  that  to  the 


134  FAYETTE  COUNTY 

northern  boundary  of  our  state,  and  on  that  to  the  west 
line  of  the  state;  and  thence  down  that  line  to  the  place 
of  beginning. 

"An  act  forming  a  new  county  out  of  the  parts  of 
counties  therein  contained,"  approved  February  14, 1821, 
created  Fayette  and  gave  it  all  of  the  state  north  of 
township  two,  north,  in  range  one,  west,  and  ranges  one, 
two,  three,  four,  five  and  six  east  of  the  third  principal 
meridian.  This  gave  Fayette  the  area  north  of  the 
Madison-St.  Clair  line  extended  that  is  east  of  the  Bond- 
Fayette  line  extended  and  west  of  the  Shelby-Coles  line 
extended. 

Beck's  Gazetteer  of  Illinois  and  Missouri  (1821)  com- 
ments on  the  fact  that  by  the  terms  of  this  statute  Fay- 
ette bisects  Pike,  but  concluding  that  this  was  an  error, 
shows  Pike  as  a  whole,  extending  entirely  across  the 
state. 

In  his  article  on  the  "Counties  of  Illinois,"  in  the 
Illinois  Blue  Book  for  1905,  Stephen  L.  Spear  contends 
that  Fayette  did  not  extend  north  of  the  Illinois  river, 
and  that  its  west  line  north  of  township  twelve,  was  the 
meridian,  and  his  map  supports  his  contention.  His 
argument  is  that  if  this  were  not  so,  then  Fayette  would 
bisect  Pike  and  take  range  one,  west,  north  of  township 
twrelve,  from  Sangamon,  where  it  had  been  placed  a  short 
time  before,  and  this  could  not  have  been  intended. 

The  answer  is,  that  the  statute  is  a  valid  expression  of 
the  will  of  the  legislature;  it  is  clear  and  precise  in  its 
language  and  as  it  merely  expresses  what  the  legislature 
could  and  might  have  intended,  Fayette  must  be  consid- 
ered as  extending,  its  entire  width,  through  Pike  to  the 
state  line.  There  are  other  instances  in  which  our  coun- 
ties were  composed  of  disconnected  tracts,  but  that  did 
not  invalidate  the  statutes  creating  such  conditions. 

The  "Act  defining  the  boundaries  of  Pike  county,  and 
for  other  purposes,"  approved  December  30,  1822,  pro- 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  135 

vides  that  the  county  shall  be  bounded  as  follows:  On 
the  north  by  the  base  line;  on  the  east  by  the  Illinois 
river;  and  on  the  west  by  the  Mississippi  and  all  the  rest 
and  remainder  of  the  territory  composing  the  county  of 
Pike,  before  the  passing  of  this  act,  shall  be  attached  to 
and  form  a  part  of  said  county  until  otherwise  disposed 
of  by  the  General  Assembly. 

Edgar  was  created  by  the  "Act  forming  a  new  county 
out  of  part  of  Clark,"  approved  January  3,  1823,  with 
its  present  boundary  line,  and  there  was  attached  to  it 
all  the  country  west  of  it  that  was  not  attached  to  any 
other  county  (and  there  was  none  so  attached  until  Fay- 
ette  was  reached),  and  all  the  territory  north  of  it  "to 
Lake  Michigan." 

The  first  section  of  the  "Act  forming  a  new  county  out 
of  the  attached  portion  of  the  county  of  Pike,"  approved 
January  28,  1823,  reads  thus :  ' '  The  territory  within  the 
following  .bounds,  beginning  at  the  point  where  the  fourth 
principal  meridian  intersects  the  Illinois  river;  thence 
up  the  middle  of  said  river  to  where  the  line  between 
ranges  five  and  six  east  strikes  the  said  river;  thence 
north  with  the  range  line  to  the  line  between  townships 
nine  and  ten  north ;  thence  west  with  the  said  line  to  the 
said  fourth  principal  meridian;  thence  south  with  said 
line  to  the  place  of  beginning,  shall  constitute  a  separate 
county  to  be  called  Fulton."  The  Act  attached  to  Fulton 
all  of  Pike  lying  north  and  east  of  the  new  county. 

The  * '  Act  forming  new  counties  out  of  Pike  and  Ful- 
ton, and  the  attached  parts  thereof,"  approved  January 
13,  3825,  created  Schuyler,  Adams,  Hancock,  Warren, 
Mercer,  Henry,  Putnam  and  Knox.  Mercer  was  given  all 
that  part  of  the  state  north  of  the  present  south  line  of 
that  county.  Knox  was  given  its  present  area,  except  the 
north  tier  of  towns  \vhich  was  put  in  Henry  with  all  the 
country  north  of  that  tier.  Hancock  and  Adams  were 
given  their  present  areas.  Warren  had  its  present  area 


136  LUDLOW  COUNTY 

and  all  of  Henderson.  Schuyler  took  its  present  area 
with  that  of  Brown.  The  territory  now  forming  Mc- 
Donough  was  overlooked  and  not  put  in  any  county,  but 
in  the  next  year  it  was  formed  into  McDonough. 

Putnam  was  given  the  country  north  of  the  present 
Peoria  and  north  of  the  Illinois  and  Kankakee  rivers, 
and  this  included  Lee. 

The  "Act  to  form  a  new  county  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort 
Clark,"  approved  January  13,  1825,  created  Peoria  with 
the  territory  it  has  today,  except  for  a  slight  change  in 
the  west  line  that  was  made  necessary  by  errors  in  the 
original  surveys.  This  act  attached  to  Peoria  a  large 
area  east  of  the  Illinois  river,  and  all  the  country  north  of 
the  new  Peoria  and  north  of  the  Illinois  and  Kankakee 
rivers,  thus  attaching  Putnam  to  Peoria. 

The  House  of  the  Fifth  General  Assembly,  January 
15,  1827,  on  motion  of  Jonathan  H.  Pugh  of  Sanga- 
mon,  adopted  a  resolution  for  the  appointment  of  a 
committee  to  inquire  into  and  report  upon  the  expediency 
of  establishing  a  new  county  on  Fever  river,  and  made 
Pugh,  Alfred  W.  Cavarly  of  Greene,  Henry  J.  Ross  of 
Pike,  David  Prickett  of  Madison  and  Charles  Ives  of 
Clark  the  members  of  that  committee.  They  reported 
a  bill  for  "An  Act  establishing  Ludlow  county."  After 
the  first  reading  the  bill  was  amended  in  committee  of 
the  whole  and  sent  to  a  select  committee  composed  of 
Pugh,  Henry  I.  Mills  of  Edwards  and  John  C.  Alexander 
of  Crawford  who  reported  it,  with  some  amendments, 
whereupon  it  was  sent  to  a  committee  consisting  of  Pugh, 
Cavarly  and  John  Leeper  of  Morgan,  who  reported  it 
with  amendments,  some  of  which  were  adopted,  while 
others  were  rejected.  After  defeating  the  motion  of  John 
Reynolds  of  St.  Clair  that  the  bill  be  laid  on  the  table 
"until  the  fourth  of  July  next,"  the  bill  was  sent  back  to 
the  last  committee.  It  was  again  reported  with  amend- 
ments, some  of  which  were  lost  and  some  adopted.  Upon 
motion  of  Cavarly,  February  8,  the  bill  was  laid  on  the 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  137 

table  "until  the  fourth  of  July  next."  The  difficulties 
encountered  seem  to  have  grown  out  of  the  provisions  for 
holding  the  circuit  court  and  the  payment  of  the  judge 's 
salary.  The  bill  still  remains  on  file,  endorsed  "An  Act 
establishing  Ludlow  county."  The  boundary  line  pro- 
posed began  at  the  northwest  corner  of  the  state,  ran  east 
on  the  northern  line  of  the  state  to  the  northwest  corner 
of  the  township  in  range  ten,  east  of  the  fourth  principal 
meridian,  thence  south  (on  the  Stephenson-Winnebago 
line  and  its  extension)  to  the  north  line  of  the  military 
tract,  thence  west  to  the  Mississippi  and  up  that  river 
to  the  place  of  beginning. 

A  few  days  later,  on  motion  of  John  Reynolds,  the 
House  took  from  the  table  a  bill  entitled  "An  Act  estab- 
lishing Jo  Daviess  county,"  though  we  find  no  mention 
in  the  journal  of  such  a  bill  until  this  occurrence,  and  sent 
it  to  a  committee  composed  of  Reynolds,  Charles  Slade  of 
Washington  and  Francis  Prince  of  Gallatin,  who  reported 
the  bill  with  amendments  that  were  adopted.  It  was  read 
the  third  time  and  sent  to  another  committee, — Prince, 
Conrad  Will  of  Jackson,  and  John  Reynolds,  w7ho  re- 
ported it  with  amendments  that  were  adopted  and  the  bill 
passed,  the  title  being  "An  Act  establishing  Jo  Daviess 
county."  It  was  approved  February  17,  1827,  and  gave 
the  new  county  a  boundary  beginning  at  the  northwest 
corner  of  the  State,  running  thence  down  the  Mississippi 
to  the  northern  line  of  the  military  tract,  thence  east  on 
that  line  to  the  Illinois,  thence  north  to  the  northern 
boundary  of  the  state,  thence  west  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning. In  those  days  many  bills  went  without  any  title 
until  the  final  reading,  except  that  noted  by  the  clerk  in 
making  up  the  journal,  and  he  changed  that  at  his  pleas- 
ure, so  it  is  quite  probable  that  the  bill  Reynolds  called 
up  from  the  table  was  the  Ludlow  bill  as  amended.  A  plat 
accompanying  the  Report  of  the  General  Land  Office, 
1835-6,  makes  the  north  line  of  the  Military  Tract  touch 


138  PINCKNEY  COUNTY 

the  Illinois  in  range  ten,  east,  a  little  west  of  the  present 
DePue. 

In  the  sixth  General  Assembly,  1828-1829,  Peter  Cart- 
wright  of  Sangamon  introduced  in  the  House  a  bill  with- 
out a  title,  but  to  which  the  clerk  has  given  the  title  of 
"An  Act  forming  the  Counties  of  Chicago,  Pinckney  and 
Brown."  After  the  second  reading  the  bill  was  sent  to 
the  committee  of  the  whole,  amended,  and  then  laid  upon 
the  table  on  motion  of  Jonathan  H.  Pugh  of  Sangamon, 
and  there  it  is  today. 

Section  one  of  the  bill  would  have  created  a  county  with 
a  boundary  line  beginning  at  the  northeast  corner  of 
township  thirty-five  north,  range  four  (4),  east  of  the 
third  principal  meridian  (a  point  six  miles  south  of  the 
north  line,  and  six  miles  west  of  the  east  line  of  the 
present  La  Salle  county);  thence  "easterly"  (an  error; 
it  should  be  westerly)  along  "the  north  line  of  the  sur- 
veys to  the  northwest  corner  of  fractional  township 
eighteen  (18)  north,  range  ten  (10),  east  of  the  fourth 
principal  meridian"  (southwest  corner  of  the  town  of 
May) ;  thence  south  on  the  line  between  ranges  nine  and 
ten  (the  Stephenson-Winnebago  line  extended)  to  the 
southwest  corner  of  "fractional  township"  thirteen  (13) 
north,  range  ten  (10)  "west  aforesaid";  thence  east  to 
the  main  channel  of  the  Illinois  river  and  down  the  river 
to  the  "southwest  angle"  of  fractional  township  twenty- 
eight  (28)  north,  range  four  (4)  west  of  the  third  prin- 
cipal meridian;  thence  east  on  the  line  between  town- 
ships twenty-seven  (27)  and  twenty-eight  (28)  (a  line  six 
miles  south  of  the  north  line  of  Woodford)  to  the  south- 
east corner  of  township  twenty-eight  (28)  north,  range 
four  (4)  east  of  the  third  principal  meridian ;  thence  north 
on  the  line  between  ranges  four  (4)  and  five  (5)  to  the 
place  of  beginning.  The  name  given  is  Pinckney.  It 
would  have  included  Bureau,  Putnam,  Marshall,  the 
greater  part  of  La  Salle,  with  some  of  Livingston  and 
Woodford. 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  139 

Section  two  of  this  Act  provided  for  a  county  to  be 
called  Brown,  and  gave  it  the  country  bounded  on  the 
north  by  an  extension  of  the  north  line  of  La  Salle,  on  the 
west  by  an  extension  of  the  east  line  of  Boone,  on  the 
south  by  an  extension  of  the  north  line  of  Woodford,  and 
on  the  east  by  a  line  six  miles  east  of  an  extension  of  the 
east  line  of  Kane. 

Section  three  would  have  created  Chicago  with  a  bound- 
ary line  beginning  on  the  eastern  boundary  line  of  the 
State  at  a  point  in  Lake  Michigan  opposite  the  line  be- 
tween townships  forty-one  and  forty-two  north,  range 
fourteen  east  of  the  third  principal  meridian  (near  Wil- 
mette),  and  running  thence  west  (on  a  line  six  miles  south 
of  Lake  county)  to  the  northwest  corner  of  township 
forty-one  north,  range  ten  east;  thence  south  (on  a  line 
six  miles  east  of  Kane  county)  to  the  northwest  corner 
of  township  thirty-seven  north,  range  ten  east;  thence 
east  (six  miles)  to  the  northwest  corner  of  township 
thirty-seven  north,  range  eleven  east;  thence  south  (six 
miles)  to  the  southwest  corner  of  township  thirty-five 
north,  range  eleven  east ;  thence  east  to  the  eastern  bound- 
ary of  the  State,  and  along  that  line  to  the  place  of  be- 
ginning. 

The  fourth  section  of  the  bill  provided  that  for  election 
and  other  county  purposes  all  the  country  lying  north  of 
the  counties  of  Chicago,  Pinckney  and  Brown,  to  the  north 
line  of  the  State,  and  as  far  west  as  the  third  principal 
meridian,  and  the  country  lying  south  of  these  counties 
so  as  to  include  township  twenty-eight  (28)  north,  "which 
is  not  included  in  the  boundaries  of  any  other  county, 
shall  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  attached  to  the  County 
of  Chicago." 

The  proposed  Chicago  would  have  included  the  east 
two-thirds  of  DuPage,  all  of  Cook,  except  the  north  tier 
of  townships  and  two  townships  off  the  north  end  of  the 
extreme  west  tier,  and  a  small  part  of  Will. 

The  attached  territorv  included  the  rest  of  DuPage  and 


140  COLUMBIA  COUNTY 

Cook,  all  of  Lake,  McHenry,  Boone,  Kane,  nearly  all  of 
DeKalb,  part  of  Winnebago,  Ogle,  Lee,  and  LaSalle. 

During  this  session  John  Reynolds  of  St.  Glair  for 
the  committee  on  the  revision  of  the  statutes,  on  Decem- 
ber 1,  1828,  introduced  in  the  House  a  bill  for  "An  Act 
ascertaining  and  defining  the  boundaries  of  the  several 
counties  in  this  state,  and  designating  the  seats  of  justice 
therein  respectively. ' '  It  was  laid  on  the  table  after  the 
first  reading.  The  real  purpose  of  the  bill  seems  to  have 
been  to  create  Macon  county.  The  boundary  line  pro- 
posed for  Putnam  by  this  bill  would  have  given  that 
county  the  territory  west  of  the  Illinois  to  the  Knox- 
Peoria  line  extended  that  is  between  the  north  line  of 
Peoria  and  the  south  line  of  Rock  Island  extended.  It 
made  no  disposition  of  that  part  of  Putnam  lying  east  of 
Jo  Daviess  and  did  not  change  the  lines  of  the  latter. 

During  the  first  session  of  the  Seventh  General  Assem- 
bly, 1830-1831,  there  was  presented  to  the  House  a  peti- 
tion from  Jo  Daviess,  Putnam  and  the  attached  parts  of 
Tazewell  and  Peoria  counties,  asking  the  formation  of  a 
new  county.  Then  Joel  Wright,  of  the  Pike,  Adams,  Ful- 
ton, Schuyler,  Peoria  and  Jo  Daviess  district,  presented 
a  petition  from  the  inhabitants  in  the  neighborhood  of 
"Chicago,  in  the  County  of  Peoria,"  praying  for  a  new 
county.  On  motion  of  John  F.  Posey,  of  the  Fayette, 
Bond,  Tazewrell,  Montgomery  and  Shelby  district,  it  was 
resolved  that  a  select  committee  be  appointed  to  lay  off 
all  the  country  on  the  other  side  of  the  Illinois  river  from 
Peoria  county  to  Chicago  into  counties,  and  to  report  by 
bill.  The  committee  was  composed  of  Posey,  Wright  and 
Jonathan  H.  Pugh  of  Sangamon.  To  the  same  committee 
was  sent,  on  motion  of  Posey,  after  its  second  reading,  a 
bill  introduced  by  Jacob  Ogle,  of  St.  Clair,  for  the  com- 
mittee on  petitions  upon  the  petition  first  mentioned,  for 
an  "Act  to  create  and  organize  the  County  of  Columbia." 
This  select  committee  reported  a  bill  for  "An  Act  to 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  141 

create  and  organize  the  counties  therein  named"  which 
passed  the  House.  It  was  amended  in  the  Senate,  the 
House  concurring,  and  became  a  law  January  15,  1831. 
It  created  Cook  and  LaSaJle  (with  its  north  boundary  as 
at  present),  changed  the  boundaries  of  Putnam  and  added 
some  territory  to  Henry.  By  the  third  section  of  this 
Act  it  is  provided  that  Putnam  shall  comprise  the  terri- 
tory within  the  following  boundaries: — beginning  at  the 
southwest  corner  of  township  twelve  north,  range  six  east 
of  the  fourth  principal  meridian  (on  the  Stark-Peoria 
line) ;  thence  east  to  the  Illinois;  thence  down  the  middle 
of  the  river  to  the  south  line  of  township  twenty-nine 
north,  west  of  the  third  principal  meridian  (Woodford- 
Mar shall  Line) ;  thence  east  to  the  third  principal  me- 
ridian, and  north  with  it  forty-two  miles  (near  Mendota) ; 
thence  west  to  (northwest  corner  of  Bureau)  a  point  six 
miles  due  north  of  the  northwest  corner  of  township 
seventeen,  range  six  east  of  the  fourth  principal  meridian ; 
thence  south  to  the  starting  point.  Some  provisions  of 
the  act  are  peculiar.  It  makes  "the  northern  boundary 
line  of  the  State"  the  north  line  of  Cook,  and  then  at- 
taches to  that  county  the  territory  " north  of  Cook  County 
and  parallel  with  the  lines  of  the  same  as  far  north- 
wardly as  Kock  River,"  the  west  line  of  Cook  being  the 
line  between  ranges  eight  and  nine  east  of  the  third  prin- 
cipal meridian  (the  Kane-DuPage  line)  and  that  river 
not  being  so  far  east  as  that  in  this  State.  The  Act  adds 
to  Henry  townships  twelve,  thirteen,  fourteen,  fifteen, 
sixteen,  seventeen  and  eighteen,  range  five,  while  another 
act  approved  that  day  (An  Act  to  establish  the  permanent 
seat  of  justice  for  Knox  county)  so  described  Henry's 
boundaries  that  they  exclude  townships  twelve  and  thir- 
teen (placing  them  in  Knox)  and  the  north  line  is  Rock 
river,  between  the  fourth  principal  meridian  and  the  east 
line  of  range  five. 

The  territory  in  range  eleven  (the  towns  of  Sublette, 
Lee  Centre,  Bradford,  Ashton  in  Lee  county,  Lafayette, 


142  LA  SALLE  COUNTY 

Pine  Rock,  Marion,  the  east  two  third  of  Byron  in  Ogle ; 
Winnebago,  Burritt,  Harrison,  and  the  greater  part  of 
Shirland  in  Winnebago)  north  of  the  new  Putnam  was 
not  put  in  any  county  or  attached  to  any.  The  north  line 
of  the  new  Putnam,  as  fixed  by  this  Act,  is  a  diagonal  one. 
A  due  west  line  from  the  third  principal  meridian  forty- 
two  miles  north  of  the  south  line  of  township  twenty-nine, 
on  that  meridian,  will  not  go  to  a  point  "six  miles  due 
north  of  the  northwest  corner  of  township  seventeen" 
north,  range  six  east  of  the  fourth  principal  meridian, 
though  the  legislators  may  have  thought  it  will.  ( This 
error  was  corrected  in  1839  after  Bureau  was  formed.) 

LaSalle  was  given  the  territory  bounded  by  a  line  be- 
ginning at  the  southwest  corner  of  the  new  Cook — the 
southwest  corner  of  township  thirty-four,  north,  range 
nine  east  of  the  third  principal  meridian  (Shermanville) ; 
running  thence  south  thirty  miles;  thence  west  to  the 
meridian  and  north  along  it  forty-eight  miles  (to  the 
northwest  corner  of  La  Salle) ;  thence  east  (on  the  La 
Salle-Lee  and  LaSalle-DeKalb  line)  to  Cook  (the  Ken- 
dall-Will line) ;  thence  south  to  the  place  of  beginning. 
The  act  attached  to  LaSalle  all  that  part  of  the  state  lying 
north  of  it.  The  attached  territory  included  the  two 
ranges  of  townships  at  the  east  end  of  Lee. 

This  statute  failed  to  make  any  disposition  of  that  part 
of  the  old  Putnam  lying  north  of  the  Kankakee,  south 
of  the  new  Cook  (the  south  line  of  township  thirty-four), 
and  east  of  LaSalle.  By  the  l '  Act  to  establish  the  county 
of  Will."  approved  January  12,  1836,  this  became  part 
of  Will. 

The  bill  for  the  "Act  to  create  and  organize  the  county 
of  Columbia"  proposed  the  following  boundary, — begin- 
ning at  the  southeast  corner  of  township  twenty-nine, 
north,  range  four,  east  of  the  third  principal  meridian, 
thence  north  (on  the  Boone-McHenry  line  extended)  to 
the  north  line  of  township  thirty-six,  thence  west  to  the 
meridian  (on  the  LaSalle-DeKalb  line)  and  through  the 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  143 

center  of  township  nineteen  in  the  ranges  east  of  the 
fourth  principal  meridian  to  the  line  between  ranges  nine 
and  ten  east  of  that  meridian  (through  the  towns  of 
Sublette  and  May  to  the  east  line  of  East  Grove  in  Lee 
county)  thence  south  (on  an  extension  of  the  east  line 
of  Stephenson)  to  and  down  the  Illinois  to  the  south- 
west corner  of  township  twenty-nine,  north,  west  of  the 
third  principal  meridian  (the  Woodford-Marshall  line) 
thence  east  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

The  bill  is  endorsed,  An  Act  to  organize  the  county  of 
Columbia. 

The  "'Act  to  establish  Rock  Island  County,"  approved 
February  9,  1831,  gave  that  county  its  present  area. 

In  the  Galenian  of  September  29,  1835,  Samuel  Allen 
and  Edmund  A.  Philleo  gave  notice,  dated  September  22, 
1835,  that  application  would  be  made  to  the  legislature  to 
strike  off  all  that  part  of  Rock  Island  county  that  lies 
east  and  south  of  Rock  river,  and  to  extend  Rock  Island 
county  from  its  then  north  line  to  the  mouth  of  Johnson  *s 
creek,  thence  east  to  the  line  between  ranges  five  and  six 
east  of  the  fourth  principal  meridian,  thence  south  to 
Rock  River,  thence  down  the  main  channel  of  that  river 
to  its  mouth. 

Johnson's  creek  runs  into  Otter  creek,  which  flows  into 
the  Mississippi  about  two  and  one-half  miles  above 
Fulton. 

In  the  Northwestern  Gazette  and  Galena  Advertiser  of 
October  15,  1836,  is  an  unsigned  notice  reading  thus 
— ' '  To  the  inhabitants  of  Rock  Island,  Henry  and  White- 
side  counties.  Notice  is  hereby  given  to  the  legal  voters 
of  the  aforesaid  counties  that  a  petition  will  be  pre- 
sented to  the  General  Assembly  of  this  State  (Illinois) 
at  their  next  session,  for  an  alteration  of  the  present 
boundary  lines  of  said  county,  and  also  for  a  change  of 
the  county  seat  -of  Rock  Island  county.  Rock  Island 
County,  October  3, 1836." 

In  the  Gazette  and  Advertiser  of  December  3,  1836, 


144  THE   DIXON   AND   BOWEN   PROJECT 

"Conclusion,"  writing  from  Rock  Island  county,  Novem- 
ber nineteenth,  says  he  understands  the  proposal  is  to 
attach  all  of  Rock  Island  south  of  Rock  river  to  Mercer 
and  to  extend  the  northern  boundary  to  include  Mere- 
dosia  and  Cat  Tail  swamps,  the  head  of  the  rapids  to  be 
the  county  seat,  that  the  proposal  is  by  a  man  who  did  not 
get  elected  recorder  after  the  county  seat  was  located  at 
Stephenson.  The  \vriter  calls  attention  to  the  great  popu- 
lation the  new  county  will  have — if  the  mosquitos  are 
counted. 

In  the  Northivestern  Gazetteer  &  Galena  Advertiser  of 
October  24,  1835,  and  other  days  after  that,  appeared 
this : 

"  Notice  is  hereby  given  that  application  will  be  made 
at  the  next  session  of  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Illi- 
nois to  establish  and  organize  three  new  counties  to  be 
embraced  within  the  limits  of  Jo  Daviess,  and  bounded  as 
follows : 

1st :  Beginning  at  a  point  on  the  Mississippi  between 
townships  twenty-five  and  twenty-six  and  range  two  east 
of  the  fourth  principal  meridian ;  thence  running  due  east 
to  the  line  between  ranges  six  and  seven  east  of  the  fourth 
principal  meridian;  thence  south  to  the  southern  boun- 
dary of  township  twenty-five ;  thence  due  west  to  the  line 
between  ranges  five  and  six  east  of  said  meridian ;  thence 
south  to  the  center  of  Rock  River ;  thence  down  the  main 
channel  of  said  stream  to  the  N.  E.  corner  of  Rock  Island 
County ;  thence  along  the  center  of  the  Meridosia,  or  the 
northern  boundary  of  said  county,  to  the  Mississippi; 
thence  up  the  main  channel  of  the  same  to  the  place  of 
beginning. 

2nd :  Also  beginning  at  the  corner  of  townships  twenty- 
four  and  twenty-four  and  twenty-five  and  twenty-five 
north  of  ranges  five  and  six  east  of  the  fourth  principal 
meridian;  thence  east  to  the  third  principal  meridian; 
thence  south  with  the  third  principal  meridian  to  the  N. 
E.  corner  of  Putnam  County ;  thence  west  along  the  north- 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  145 

ern  boundary  of  said  county  to  the  northwest  corner 
thereof;  thence  north  between  ranges  four  and  five  to 
Rock  River;  thence  up  the  main  channel  of  Rock  River 
to  the  range  line  between  ranges  five  and  six ;  thence  north 
with  said  range  line  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

3rd :  Also  leaving  all  that  part  of  the  aforesaid  County 
of  Jo  Daviess  with  so  much  of  that  portion  attached  to 
the  County  of  LaSalle  as  the  Legislature  in  their  wisdom 
shall  see  fit  to  award  lying  north  of  the  last  above  de- 
scribed county  and  east  of  range  seven  of  the  fourth  prin- 
cipal meridian  to  constitute  the  third  new  county. 

October  24, 1835. 

John  Dixon, 
Luther  H.  Bowen." 

Luther  H.  Bowen  was  one  of  the  surveyors  who  located 
the  Illinois- Wisconsin  line  in  1832.  In  1835  he  bought  a 
claim  to  the  land  on  which  Savanna  stands,  and  in  the 
next  year  platted  that  town,  conducting  a  store  there  from 
that  time  until  his  death,  May  5, 1876.  He  was  one  of  the 
first  three  county  commissioners  of  Carroll  county.  (Kett, 
History  of  Carroll  County.) 

This  notice  appears  to  assume  that  the  west  line  of 
Putnam  was  the  line  between  ranges  four  and  five,  east 
of  the  fourth  principal  meridian,  while  it,  in  fact,  was  the 
line  between  ranges  five  and  six.  The  consequence  of 
this  error  is  that  the  boundaries  proposed  for  the  second 
county  would  not  connect. 

It  is  somewhat  singular  that  Bowen,  who  must  have 
been  acquainted  with  the  township  lines,  and  who  un- 
doubtedly sought  to  create  a  county  of  which  his  town 
would  be  the  capital,  placed  the  north  line  of  the  first 
county  at  the  line  between  townships  twenty-five  and 
twenty-six,  barely  seven  miles  north  of  Savanna. 

A  petition  praying  for  the  passage  of  a  statute  creating 
counties  as  outlined  by  this  notice,  \vas  duly  presented  to 
the  General  Assembly.  With  other  petitions  asking  the 
formation  of  other  counties  this  led  to  the  passage  of 


146  OGLE  COUNTY 

the  "Act  to  establish  certain  counties,"  approved  Janu- 
ary 16,  1836,  which  created  McHenry,  Winnebago,  Kane, 
Whiteside  and  Ogle,  and  recast  the  boundaries  of  Jo 
Daviess. 

Whiteside  was  given  its  present  area,  but  it  was  to  re- 
main a  part  of  Jo  Daviess  until  Ogle  was  organized  and 
then  to  be  attached  to  that  county  until  its  own  organiza- 
tion. This  boundary  has  not  been  changed. 

Ogle  was  given  the  territory  bounded  by  a  line  running 
from  the  southeast  corner  of  Whiteside,  north  to  the 
southwest  corner  of  township  twenty-six;  thence  east  (on 
its  present  north  line)  to  the  third  principal  meridian; 
thence  south  on  that  meridian  to  the  southwest  corner  of 
township  forty-three,  north,  range  one,  east  of  that  me- 
ridian; thence  east  (on  Winnebago-Ogle  line)  to  range 
three;  thence  south  on  the  west  line  of  that  range  (the 
DeKalb-Ogle  and  DeKalb-Lee  line)  to  the  southwest  cor- 
ner of  township  thirty-seven,  range  three  (southwest  cor- 
ner of  DeKalb) ;  thence  west  to  the  meridian  (at  north- 
west corner  of  LaSalle) ;  thence  south  with  the  meridian 
to  the  southeast  corner  of  township  nineteen,  range  eleven 
east  of  the  fourth  principal  meridian  (northeast  corner 
of  Bureau) ;  thence  west  (on  the  Lee-Bureau  line)  to  the 
place  of  beginning. 

There  was  left  unmentioned  and  unrecognized  a  tri- 
angular strip  in  township  eighteen,  ranges  six,  seven, 
eight,  nine,  ten  and  eleven  east  of  the  fourth  principal 
meridian,  south  of  Ogle  and  Whiteside,  and  north  of 
Putnam,  but  by  this  Act  completely  cut  off  from  Jo 
Daviess.  (It  was  afterwards  placed  in  Bureau.  The 
present  towns  of  Eagle  Point,  Brookville  and  the  west 
half  of  Forreston  were  added  to  Ogle  afterwards.) 

The  Act  creating  Ogle  provided  that  the  county  seat 
should  be  located  by  James  L.  Kirkpatrick  of  Jo  Daviess, 
Charles  Reed  and  James  B.  Campbell  of  Cook.  The  lo- 
cation was  made  by  Reed  and  Kirkpatrick  June  20,  1836, 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  147 

and  displeased  many  of  those  living  in  the  western  part 
of  the  county. 

In  the  Northwestern  Gazette  and  Galena-  Advertiser  of 
September  3,  10, 17  and  24,  1836,  the  following  appeared : 
' '  Notice.    A  petition  will  be  presented  to  the  Legis- 
lature, at  their  next  session,  praying  that  Towns  19, 
20,  21,  22,  23  and  24  of  Ranges  six  and  7  east  of  the 
4th  Principal  Meridian,  be  attached  to  and  form  a 
part  of  Ogle  County,  and  that  disinterested  Commis- 
sioners be  appointed  to  locate  the  county  seat  for 
said  county  and  that  the  name  of  said  county  be 
changed  from  Ogle  to  that  of  Carroll. 

John  Brookie, 
I.  Chambers. 
August  29, 1836." 

Brookie  and  Isaac  Chambers  settled  in  or  near  Buffalo 
Grove  in  1829.  (Kett,  Ogle  County.)  They  had  two  ob- 
jections to  the  original  west  line  of  Ogle, — it  cut  the  Buf- 
falo Grove  settlement  in  two,  and  they  were  put  under 
the  domination  of  John  Phelps  of  Oregon.  Had  their 
scheme  been  successful  a  little  more  than  one  third  of 
Whiteside,  taken  off  the  east  end,  and  almost  one  half  of 
the  present  Carroll,  also  taken  off  the  east  end,  would 
have  been  added  to  Ogle. 

Bowen  allied  himself  with  William  Kirkpatrick,  who, 
with  William  Baker,  W.  T.  Gilbraith  and  Smith  Gilbraith, 
held  a  claim  to  the  land  on  which  Freeport  stands,  and 
they  gave  notice,  dated  October  14,  in  the  Northwestern 
Gazette  and  Galena  Advertiser  of  October  15,  1836,  that 
a  petition  would  be  presented  to  the  legislature  praying 
the  formation  of  two  counties,  1 — beginning  on  the  state 
line  between  ranges  five  and  six,  east,  thence  to  the  line 
between  ranges  nine  and  ten;  thence  south  to  the  south 
boundary  of  township  twenty-six;  thence  west  to  the  line 
between  ranges  five  and  six;  thence  north  to  the  place  of 

beginning,  ' '  by  the  name  of "  2 — beginning  on 

the  Mississippi  between  townships  twenty-four  and 
twenty-five;  thence  east  to  the  line  between  ranges  five 


148  FORSYTHE  COUNTY 

and  six;  thence  south  to  the  south  boundary  of  township 
twenty-one ;  thence  west  to  the  Mississippi,  thence  up  the 
main  channel  of  the  Mississippi  to  the  place  of  beginning 
"forming  the  county  of  Forsythe." 

The  county  first  proposed  would  have  included  all  of 
our  Stephenson,  except  the  tier  of  half  towns  on  the  west 
end.  Forsythe  would  have  had  parts  of  the  present  Car- 
roll and  Whiteside. 

These  petitions,  with  others,  led  to  the  passage  of  the 
"Act  to  create  certain  counties  therein  named,"  ap- 
proved March  4,  1837,  by  which  Stephenson,  Boone  and 
DeKalb  were  formed.  Bowen  failed  in  this  effort  also. 

The  fourth  section  of  the  original  bill  for  this  act,  in 
describing  the  boundary  line  of  DeKalb  (there  called 
Benton),  started  it  at  the  southwest  corner  of  township 
thirty-seven,  range  two,  east,  putting  that  range  in  that 
county.  By  amendment  the  starting  point  was  put  at  the 
southeast  corner  of  that  township,  where  it  is  today. 
There  is  nothing  left  on  record  to  show  when,  where  or 
by  whose  efforts  this  amendment  was  made. 

Wednesday,  January  11,  1837,  A.  G.  S.  Wight,  member 
for  the  Jo  Daviess,  Bock  Island  and  Mercer  counties  dis- 
trict in  the  Senate  of  the  Tenth  General  Assembly,  pre- 
sented the  petition  of  many  citizens  of  Ogle,  Jo  Daviess 
and  Whiteside  counties  praying  an  addition  to  Ogle 
county,  which  was,  on  his  motion,  referred  to  a  select 
committee  of  five,  consisting  of  Wight,  Orville  H.  Brown- 
ing, William  J.  Gatewood  of  Gallatin,  William  Thomas  of 
Morgan  and  John  D.  Whiteside  of  Monroe. 

The  Vandalia  correspondent  (evidently  Senator  Wight) 
of  the  Northwestern  Gazette  and  Galena  Advertiser,  un- 
der date  of  January  2,  1837,  in  the  issue  of  January  15, 
1837,  says — "I  introduced  the  petition  of  the  citizens  of 
Ogle  county  praying  the  alteration  of  their  boundary  and 
that  commissioners  be  appointed  to  permanently  locate 
the  seat  of  justice,  notwithstanding  the  great  injustice 
done  them  by  former  legislation  as  regards  both,  yet  I  am 


EARLY   LEE    COUNTY  149 

doubtful  of  success,  because  men  of  influence  are  con- 
nected in  the  speculation. ' ' 

January  13,  Thomas  presented  petitions  and  remon- 
strances from  Ogle  and  Whiteside  respecting  the  pro- 
posed change  in  their  dividing  line,  and  these  were  sent 
to  the  same  committee.  On  the  nineteenth  Thomas  intro- 
duced the  petition  of  sundry  citizens  praying  for  a  di- 
vision of  Ogle,  and  upon  his  motion,  it  was  referred  to 
the  same  select  committee,  to  which  other  petitions  on 
the  same  subject  were  referred. 

On  the  twenty-first  Wight  moved  the  adoption  of  the 
following:  Resolved,  that  the  select  commitee  to  whom 
was  referred  the  petition  of  sundry  citizens  of  Ogle 
county,  praying  an  alteration  of  boundary  lines  and  the 
re-location  of  the  seat  of  justice  of  said  county,  together 
with  the  remonstrances  to  the  same  be  authorized  to  ex- 
amine persons  interested  in  relation  thereto,  under  oath. 
This  was  adopted  on  motion  of  Thomas. 

On  the  twenty-sixth  Wight,  for  the  committee,  reported 
that  "they  had  had  same  under  consideration  and  beg 
leave  to  report  that  the  first  part  of  their  duty  appears  to 
be  to  ascertain  that  the  petitioners  had  given  the  legal 
notice  in  such  cases ;  when  satisfied  upon  this  subject  they 
proceeded  to  examine  the  respective  petitions  and  re- 
monstrances with  a  great  deal  of  minuteness  and  accur- 
acy, which  enabled  them  to  arrive  at  the  following: 

"The  whole  number  of  the  citizens  of  Ogle  Coun- 
ty who  had  signed  one  or  the  other  appears  to  be  four 
hundred  and  eleven,  two  hundred  and  thirty-six  of 
whom  have  signed  the  petition,  and  one  hundred  and 
seventy-five  the  remonstrances.  The  petition  and 
remonstrances  from  Whiteside  being  equal  in  point 
of  numbers,  but  from  information  to  be  relied  on, 
from  citizens  residing  in  that  section  of  the  coun- 
try (now  in  Vandalia),  who  appeared  before  the  com- 
mittee, which  information  is  corroborated  by  the  rep- 
resentation from  that  district,  it  appears  that  while 
those  whose  names  are  found  on  the  petition  were 
identified,  with  but  one  exception,  as  being  bona  fide 


150  ALTERING  OGLE   COUNTY 

residents  of  that  part  of  the  county  prayed  to  be  at- 
tached, but  three  names  on  the  remonstrance  could 
be  identified  as  living  in  Whiteside  County,  and  they 
quite  remote  from  the  territory  in  question,  the 
greater  part  of  the  balance  being  identified  as  citi- 
zens of  Galena  and  Wisconsin  territory.  The  com- 
mittee will  further  state  that  the  principal  petition, 
which  the  former  Senator  from  that  district  pre- 
sented to  the  Senate  for  the  formation  of  a  county 
on  the  Bock  river  asked  for  the  same  boundaries 
which  are  now  proposed  and  asked  for  by  the  peti- 
tion, as  appears  manifest  from  the  original  bill  as 
first  introduced,  creating  the  county,  by  the  standing 
committee  on  petitions.  These  facts  in  connection 
with  the  circumstance  that  the  present  boundary  in 
question  cuts  in  two  one  of  the  oldest  and  decidedly 
the  most  populous  and  dense  settlements  in  that  sec- 
tion of  the  country,  give  the  petitioners  strong  claims 
to  legislative  interference.  As  regards  the  re-loca- 
tion of  the  Seat  of  Justice  your  committee  will  state 
that  independent  of  the  'circumstancial'  evidence 
that  the  location  was  made  more  with  an  eye  to  pro- 
mote the  schemes  of  certain  speculators  than  the  in- 
terests of  the  citizens  of  said  county  upon  which  the 
committee,  however,  do  not  wish  to  be  understood  to 
give  an  opinion,  that  the  present  location  is  objec- 
tionable on  account  of  its  remoteness  from  the  cen- 
ter, being  thirty  miles  from  the  south  boundary,  and 
but  twelve  miles  from  the  north  boundary,  twenty- 
three  miles  from  its  east  boundary,  and  fifteen  from 
its  west  boundary,  and  as  your  committee  are  fur- 
ther satisfied  that  great  discontent,  indeed  to  an 
alarming  degree,  prevails  throughout  said  county 
upon  this  subject,  we  therefore  report  a  bill  entitled 
'An  Act  for  altering  the  boundaries  of  Ogle  County 
and  other  purposes.'  " 

In  the  form  in  which  it  was  reported  to  the  Senate  the 
first  section  of  this  bill  provided  that  all  that  part  of  Jo 
Daviess  south  of  Ogle,  east  of  the  third  principal  merid- 
ian, and  north  of  Putnam  (evidently  meaning  part  of  this 
diagonal  strip),  and  the  east  half  of  townships  number 
twenty-one  -and  twenty-two  (in  Whiteside),  and  all  of 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  151 

townships  number  twenty-three,  twenty-four  and  twenty- 
five,  in  range  seven  (then  in  Jo  Daviess)  should  be  made 
part  of  Ogle,  and  that  township  twenty-three  in  ranges 
four,  five  and  six,  and  fractional  township  twenty-three, 
in  range  three  (now  the  south  tier  of  towns  in  Carroll) 
should  be  placed  in  Whiteside.  It  would  have  put  Shan- 
non, Milledgeville  and  about  one-half  of  Sterling  and 
Rock  Falls  in  Ogle.  The  second  section  provided  for 
the  division  of  Ogle,  as  thus  constituted,  into  nine  elec- 
tion districts ;  the  election  of  a  commissioner  in  each  dis- 
trict, and  the  location  of  the  county  seat  by  those  com- 
missioners. 

After  its  second  reading  the  bill  was  referred  to  a  se- 
lect committee  composed  of  Wight,  George  W.  P.  Max- 
well of  Schuyler,  and  William  O'Rear  of  Morgan.  Janu- 
ary 28  Maxwell  reported  the  bill  with  amendments  (none 
of  which  can  be  found  now),  and  on  his  motion  they  were 
indefinitely  postponed,  but,  three  days  later,  on  motion  of 
Levin  Lane  of  Hamilton,  a  reconsideration  was  had,  and 
on  motion  of  Wight  the  proposed  amendments  were 
amended  by  striking  out  all  after  the  enacting  clause  and 
inserting: 

"That  all  that  part  of  Jo  Daviess  County  lying 
south  of  Ogle  County  is  hereby  attached  to  and  made 
a  part  of  Ogle  County,  and  that  for  the  more  perma- 
nent and  satisfactory  location  of  the  seat  of  justice 
of  said  Ogle  County,  the  county  commissioners  there- 
of are  hereby  required  to  order  an  election  to  be  held 
in  the  several  precincts  of  said  county  to  elect  five 
commissioners,  which  election  shall  be  conducted  and 
the  returns  thereof  made,  in  the  same  manner  that 
other  county  elections  are.  Said  commissioners,  or 
a  majority  thereof,  when  thus  elected  and  sworn  be- 
fore a  Justice  of  the  Peace  to  take  into  consideration 
the  convenience  of  the  people  and  the  situation  of 
the  present  settlements,  with  an  eye  to  the  future 
population  of  the  county,  shall  proceed  to  examine 
and  determine  upon  the  place  for  a  permanent  seat 
of  Justice,  giving  a  preference  to  the  land  belonging 


152  TO  LOCATE  THE  COUNTY  SEAT 

to  the  United  States.  But  in  case  such  selection 
should  be  made  upon  land  claimed  by  an  individual 
or  individuals,  the  said  commissioners  shall  secure 
for  the  use  of  the  county  a  quantity  not  less  than 
forty  acres,  which  land  thus  acquired  shall  be  laid 
off  into  town  lots  and  be  disposed  of  by  the  county 
commissioners,  and  the  proceeds  thereof  applied  to 
the  erection  of  public  buildings  for  said  county.  Pro- 
vided, however,  that  no  person  residing  within  the 
bounds  of  the  attached  part  of  said  county  shall  be 
allowed  to  vote  for  commissioners  to  locate  the  Seat 
of  Justice  as  herein  provided  for." 

After  this  amendment  was  adopted  the  bill  was  read 
the  third  time  and  laid  on  the  table,  on  motion  of  Max- 
well, and  later,  on  the  motion  of  Wight,  taken  from  the 
table  and  referred  to  a  select  committee,  consisting  of 
Wight,  Maxwell  and  Benjamin  Bond  of  Clinton. 

On  Thursday,  February  9,  Wight  reported  the  bill 
with  an  amendment,  which  was  read  and  concurred  in, 
and  the  bill  passed  in  the  following  form : 

1  'Be  it  enacted  by  the  People  of  the  State  of  Illi- 
nois represented  in  the  General  Assembly: 

Sec.  1— 

That  all  of  that  tract  of  country  laying  south  of 
Ogle  County  formerly  of  Jo  Daviess  County  be  and 
is  hereby  attached  to  and  made  a  part  of  Ogle  Coun- 
ty. 

Sec.  2d— 

The  county  commissioners'  court  of  Ogle  County 
shall  order  an  election  in  the  several  precincts  in 
said  county  at  such  time  as  they  may  think  best.  At 
which  election  the  qualified  voters  residing  in  said 
county  may  vote  for  the  permanent  seat  of  Justice 
of  said  county,  which  election  shall  be  conducted  in 
every  respect  and  returns  thereof  made,  as  other 
county  elections  are  under  the  act  regulating  elec- 
tions approved  Jan.  10,  1829 — 

Sec.  3d- 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  county  commissioners 
of  said  county  to  hold  a  court  within  thirty  days  after 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  153 

said  election  shall  have  been  held  at  which  court  it 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  clerk  to  lay  before  the  court 
complete  returns  of  said  election  as  far  as  they  have 
been  received,  and  if  it  shall  appear  by  said  returns 
that  the  present  county  seat  has  received  a  greater 
number  of  votes  than  any  other  one  place  voted  for. 
it  shall  be  and  remain  the  permanent  seat  of  Jus- 
tice for  said  county.  But  in  case  any  other  place 
voted  for  shall  have  received  at  said  election  a  great- 
er number  of  votes  than  the  present  county  seat,  or 
of  any  other  place  voted  for,  and  a  suitable  cite,  with 
not  less  than  forty  acres,  of  land  can  be  obtained  by 
the  county  commissioners  at  the  place  so  elected  for 
the  use  of  the  county.  Said  land  shall  be  laid  off  into 
Town  lots  and  disposed  of  by  said  court,  and  the 
proceeds  thereof  applied  to  the  erection  of  Public 
buildings  for  said  county.  Which  said  election  so 
made  shall  be  and  remain  the  county  cite  seat  for 
said  county,  any  law  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 
Providid  that  if  the  affore  said  election  be  contested 
the  county  commissioners  may  defer  their  action  un- 
till  the  result  of  said  contest  be  known.  This  act  to 
be  in  force  from  and  after  its  Passage." 

The  House  sent  it  to  a  special  committee,  consisting  of 
James  Craig  of  Jo  Daviess,  George  Scarborough  of  Ver- 
million,  Elijah  Charles  of  Jo  Daviess,  Henry  Madden  of 
La  Salle,  and  William  A.  Richardson  of  Schuyler. 

On  March  1  Craig  reported  the  bill  to  the  House  with 
an  amendment  (now  lost),  which  was  read  and  concurred 
in,  and  it  was  ordered  to  a  third  reading,  and  on  motion 
of  Craig,  referred  to  a  select  committee  consisting  of 
Craig,  Albert  C.  Leary  and  Joseph  Naper  of  Cook. 

On  March  3  Craig  reported  the  bill  with  an  amendment 
which  was  read  (and  is  now  lost).  Augustus  C.  French 
of  Edgar  moved  to  lay  the  bill  on  the  table  until  July 
fourth,  and  the  motion  was  carried.  This  was  the  end  of 
the  bill,  for  the  Assembly  adjourned  March  sixth. 

Among  those  voting  against  this  motion  to  table  were 
Father  Dixon's  friends,  Elijah  Charles  and  James  Craig 
of  Jo  Daviess,  John  Dement,  then  living  in  Franklin 


154  TO  DIVIDE  OGLE  COUNTY 

county,  Jesse  K.  Dubois,  later  State  Auditor,  Ninian  W. 
Edwards,  John  J.  Hardin,  who  was  killed  in  the  battle  of 
Buena  Vista,  Abraham  Lincoln,  John  Naper,  Edwin  B. 
Webb  and  Robert  L.  Wilson. 

The  commissioners  who  were  appointed  to  locate  the 
seat  of  justice  of  this  county  placed  it  at  Oregon.  This 
intensified  the  jealousy  between  the  people  of  Dixon's 
Ferry  and  those  of  Oregon.  Buffalo  Grove,  long  since 
obliterated  by  the  march  of  improvements,  and  Grand 
De  Tour  became  ambitious,  and  efforts  were  made  to  di- 
vide the  county.  John  Dixon  was  the  controlling  spirit 
in  the  south  half  of  the  county,  while  Thomas  Ford,  then 
judge  of  the  Circuit  Court,  and  later  judge  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  and,  still  later,  Governor,  was  dominant 
in  and  around  Oregon.  Virgil  A.  Bogue  was  the  cham- 
pion of  Buffalo  Grove. 

In  his  "Sketches  of  the  History  of  Ogle  County"  Henry 
E.  Boss  says  that  John  Dixon  posted  notices  in  Galena, 
in  1838,  that  he  would  apply  to  the  Legislature  "for  the 
formation  of  a  new  county,  the  proposed  territory  includ- 
ing Oregon  in  the  north, ' '  and  that  John  Phelps  of  Oregon 
chanced  to  see  this  notice  and  he  posted  one  stating  his 
intention  of  applying  for  an  act  dividing  Ogle  by  an  east 
and  west  line  "just  including  the  present  town  of  Dixon" 
in  the  north  county.  (P.  57.) 

In  the  Northwestern  Gazette  and  Galena  Advertiser, 
commencing  September  8,  1838,  and  running  until  Feb- 
ruary 21, 1839,  the  following  appeared : . 

"NOTICE:  A  petition  will  be  presented  to  the 
Legislature  at  their  next  session  at  Vandalia,  for  a 
division  of  Ogle  county  at  or  near  the  centre  by  a 
line  from  east  to  west  thereby  making  each  county 
about  twenty-one  by  thirty-six  miles. 

Dixon,  Sept.  1st,  1838.  JOHN  DIXON." 

Petitions  for  a  division  by  an  east  and  west  line  were 
prepared,  circulated  and  signed,  while  the  friends  of 
Buffalo  Grove  and  Grand  De  Tour  scoured  the  county 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  155 

in  their  efforts  to  secure  signatures  to  their  petition  for 
a  division  by  a  north  and  south  line.  Phelps,  a  man  of 
strong  passions,  had  taken  offense  at  something  said  or 
done  by  Dixon,  and  in  his  anger  denounced  the  latter 
with  much  more  force  than  elegance.  Judge  Ford,  then 
living  in  Oregon,  realized  that  Phelps  was  doing  a  great 
injury  to  that  community,  so  he  interceded  and  induced 
the  latter  to  make  peace  with  Mr.  Dixon  and  join  with 
him  in  an  effort  to  divide  the  county  in  such  a  manner 
that  each  would  have  a  county  seat  at  his  own  town. 
Phelps  listened  to  Ford's  suggestions  and  became  Dixon 's 
ally.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  establish  the  divid- 
ing line.  Joseph  Crawford  of  Dixon  and  Cyrus  Cham- 
berlain of  "The  Kingdom"  were  two  members  of  that 
committee.  Undoubtedly  there  were  other  members  of 
the  committee,  but  our  efforts  to  learn  their  names  failed. 

It  was  proposed  that  the  north  line  of  the  new  county 
should  run  from  the  northeast  corner  of  Lee  straight  to 
Bock  river,  but  Chamberlain  protested  so  vehemently 
against  this  that  the  line  was  placed  where  it  is  to-day, 
and  this  because  Chamberlain  insisted  that  his  land  must 
be  in  the  south  county,  for  he  would  not  live  "in  Jack 
Phelps'  county."  (This  is  on  the  authority  of  a  state- 
ment by  Dr.  Oliver  Everett.) 

Then  they  put  into  circulation  petitions  to  the  legisla- 
ture asking  that  Ogle  be  divided  upon  the  line  they  had 
chosen.  Smith  Gilbraith  and  Frederick  R.  Dutcher  went 
to  Vandalia  in  behalf  of  Dixon 's  Ferry  to  see  that  no 
point  was  overlooked. 

Dutcher  frequently  talked  of  the  work  he  and  Gilbraith 
did  at  Vandalia  to  promote  the  passage  of  their  bill,  and 
often  said  that  they  once  heard  that  Bogue  was  expect- 
ing to  receive  another  petition  signed  by  a  great  number 
of  the  inhabitants  of  Ogle.  Fearing  that  petition  would 
give  Bogue  a  majority  of  the  petitioners,  Dutcher  and 
Gilbraith  made  their  plans  to  keep  the  new  petition  from 


156  BUTCHER'S  TRICK 

Bogue.  To  do  this,  Dutcher  frequently  inquired  at  the 
post  office  if  there  was  any  mail  for  Bogue.  His  persist- 
ence was  rewarded  one  day  by  an  affirmative  answer,  and 
he  promptly  asked  for  the  mail.  He  was  given  a  large 
package  which  he  soon  found  was  the  new  petition,  and 
he  and  Gilbraith  carefully  concealed  it  until  their  bill  was 
passed,  and  then  it  was  useless. 

Dutcher  also  said  that,  in  order  to  reduce  the  influence 
of  Bogue  to  the  minimum,  he  and  Gilbraith  persuaded 
Bogue  to  make  a  speech  in  favor  of  the  abolition  of  slav- 
ery, and  such  a  speech  did  not  make  one  very  popular 
there  in  those  days. 

While  some  who  claim  to  know  say  that  Bogue  was  not 
in  Vandalia  during  that  session,  being  detained  at  home 
by  a  severe  illness,  his  daughter  says  he  did  attend  that 
session,  and  was  confined  to  his  room  by  illness,  but  she 
adds,  with  sincere  regret,  she  has  no  further  information 
on  the  subject,  as  she  was  a  mere  child  then  and  her 
father  would  not  talk  of  those  events. 

The  Eleventh  General  Assembly  convened  for  its  first 
session  on  the  third  of  December,  1838.  George  W.  Har- 
rison of  Galena  was  the  Senator  for  the  district  com- 
posed of  the  counties  of  Jo  Daviess,  Rock  Island,  Steph- 
enson,  Winnebago,  Ogle,  and  Mercer,  and  James  Craig 
of  Jo  Daviess,  and  Germanicus  Kent  of  Eockford 
were  the  representatives  for  the  district.  On  the  thir- 
teenth of  January,  1839,  there  was  presented  to  the  House 
a  petition  of  citizens  of  Ogle  living  in  township  forty 
two,  ranges  one  and  two  (Scott  and  Monroe)  asking  that 
those  towns  be  placed  in  Winnebago.  It  wrent  to  the 
committee  on  counties  and  no  report  was  made  upon  it. 

On  the  twenty-sixth  of  January,  Craig  presented  to 
the  House  of  Representatives  several  petitions  for  the 
division  of  Ogle,  with  remonstrances  against  the  division, 
and  the  recantations  of  some  persons  who  had  found 
themselves  on  the  wrong  side  of  the  question  after  they 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  157 

had  signed,  and  all  were,  upon  his  motion,  referred,  with- 
out reading,  to  a  select  committee  consisting  of  himself, 
William  H.  Henderson  of  the  Putnam  and  Bureau  dis- 
trict, and  Joseph  Naper  of  Cook,  Will  and  McHenry 
district,  for  whom  Naperville  was  named.  Two  days 
later  Craig  presented  more  petitions  and  recantations, 
and  they  went  to  the  same  committee.  On  the  fourth  of 
February,  this  committee,  by  Craig,  reported  favorably 
a  bill  for  "An  Act  to  create  the  County  of  Lee  out  of 
Ogle."  It  was  read  twice,  and  then,  on  his  motion,  re- 
ferred to  the  standing  committee  on  counties,  which  was 
composed  of  John  Moore  of  McLean  (afterwards  State 
Treasurer),  Henry  L.  Webb  of  Alexander,  Abraham  Lin- 
coln of  Sangamon,  Newton  Cloud  of  Morgan,  Germanicus 
Kent,  John  Houston  of  the  Crawford  and  Jasper  dis- 
trict, Edward  M.  Daley  of  Greene,  John  H.  Murphy  of 
Vermillion  and  Alden  Hull  of  Tazewell. 

In  the  Northwestern  Gazette  and  Galena  Advertiser 
of  February  1,  1839,  is  part  of  a  letter  to  the  Peoria 
Register  from  the  latter 's  Vandalia  correspondent  speak- 
ing of  the  bill  to  establish  new  circuits  for  the  courts  in 
which  the  writer  mentions  "the  new  county  that  will 
likely  be  made  out  of  the  south  part  of  Ogle  and  Henry. ' ' 
The  correspondent  erred,  as  there  was  no  proposal  to 
make  such  a  county. 

On  the  twelfth  of  February,  Kent  presented  two  peti- 
tions, one  signed  by  seventy  nine,  and  the  other  by  three 
hundred  and  twenty  three  voters,  praying  for  a  removal 
of  the  county  seat  of  Ogle,  and  remonstrating  against  a 
division  of  the  county.  Without  reading,  they  were  sent 
to  the  committee  on  counties.  On  the  nineteenth  of  Feb- 
ruary, Moore  of  that  committee  and  in  its  behalf,  made  a 
favorable  report  upon  the  bill  with  some  amendments, 
which  the  committee  proposed,  one  of  them  making  the 
title  "An  Act  to  create  the  county  of  Lee  from  the  county 
of  Ogle,"  and  it  was  ordered  engrossed  for  a  third  read- 


158  LEE   COUNTY   FORMED 

ing.  On  the  twenty-second  it  passed  the  House  and  was 
sent  to  the  Senate,  where  it  was  read  the  first  time  Feb- 
ruary 26  and  ordered  to  a  second  reading,  when,  upon 
motion  of  Harrison,  the  rules  were  dispensed  with  and 
the  bill  read  the  second  time  by  its  title,  and  then,  upon 
his  motion,  a  further  dispensation  of  the  rules  was  had, 
and  the  bill  was  read  the  third  time  by  title  and  passed. 
It  was  approved,  and  went  into  effect  on  the  twenty- 
seventh  of  February. 

The  Act  provides  "that  all  that  part  of  Ogle  County 
lying  south  of  a  line  beginning  on  the  western  boundary 
of  Ogle  County  at  the  northwest  corner  of  section 
eighteen  in  township  twenty-two,  north  of  range  eight, 
east  of  the  fourth  principal  meridian;  thence  on  the  sec- 
tion line  between  sections  number  seven  and  eighteen  in 
said  township,  east  to  the  main  channel  of  Rock  River; 
thence  up  the  center  of  the  main  channel  of  Rock  River 
to  the  section  line  between  sections  twelve  and  thirteen 
in  township  twenty-two  north  of  range  nine,  east  of  the 
fourth  principal  meridian ;  thence  east  with  the  last  men- 
tioned line  to  the  northeast  corner  of  section  seventeen, 
in  township  twenty-two  north  of  range  ten,  east  of  the 
fourth  principal  meridian;  thence  south  to  the  southeast 
corner  of  the  last  mentioned  section ;  and  thence  east  with 
the  section  lines  to  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  county 
shall  constitute  the  county  of  Lee. ' ' 

As  passed  the  bill  appointed  D.  G.  Salisbury,  "N. 
Nichols"  and  L.  G.  Butler  commissioners  to  locate  the 
county  seat.  On  March  second,  the  House,  on  motion  of 
Craig,  adopted  a  resolution  reciting  that  "N.  Nichols," 
of  Whiteside,  should  be  "E.  H.  Nichols,"  and  authoriz- 
ing the  Secretary  of  State  to  substitute  the  latter  for 
the  former  in  the  enrolled  bill,  and  that  was  done,  the 
Senate  concurring  in  the  passage  of  the  resolution. 

While  this  bill  was  pending  a  bitter  fight  over  the  loca- 
tion of  De  Kalb's  seat  of  justice  brought  in  a  strange 
element.  Joseph  W.  Churchill  of  De  Kalb  introduced 


EARLY    LEE    COUNTY  159 

a  petition  of  citizens  of  that  county  praying  for  a  divi- 
sion of  Ogle,  and  a  petition  from  De  Kalb  asking  for  the 
re-location  of  the  seat  of  justice  of  that  county.  Both 
went  to  the  committee  on  counties.  The  latter  resulted 
in  the  passage  of  the  "Act  to  re-locate  the  seat  of  justice 
of  the  county  of  De  Kalb,"  approved  March  second,  1839. 
The  first  induced  the  committee  to  report  a  bill  for  "An 
Act  relative  to  the  county  of  De  Kalb,"  which  was  read 
twice  in  the  House.  February  twentieth  it  was  ordered  en- 
grossed for  third  reading,  and  then  abandoned,  no  further 
action  being  had  upon  it.  The  bill  remains  on  file.  The  first 
section  is  crossed  out.  The  other  sections  relate  to  the 
location  of  the  county  seat.  The  first  section,  had  the  bill 
passed  with  that  in  it,  would  have  added  to  De  Kalb, 
without  any  vote  by  the  people,  all  of  range  two  east  of 
the  third  principal  meridian,  being  townships  thirty- 
seven  (Wyoming),  thirty-eight  (Willow  Creek),  thirty- 
nine  (Alto)  of  Lee  county,  and  townships  forty  (De- 
ment), forty-one  (Lynnville)  and  forty-two  (Monroe)  of 
Ogle.  (An  erasure  and  alteration  make  it  uncertain  as 
to  the  last  town.) 

While  these  bills  were  pending  an  effort  was  made  in 
the  House  to  create  a  new  county  out  of  parts  of  Winne- 
bago,  Ogle,  De  Kalb  and  La  Salle,  but  it  failed. 

Citizens  of  Lee,  De  Kalb  and  LaSalle  unsuccessfully 
petitioned  the  Fourteenth  General  Assembly,  1844-45,  for 
the  formation  of  a  new  county  out  of  territory  in  those 
counties. 

Silas  Noble  of  Lee  introduced  in  the  Senate  of  the  Fif- 
teenth General  Assembly,  1846-  '47,  the  petition  of  sundry 
citizens  of  Lee,  La  Salle,  and  De  Kalb  counties  for  a 
new  county  to  be  called  Eagle,  to  be  composed  of  town- 
ships thirty-six,  thirty-seven  and  thirty-eight,  in  ranges 
one,  two,  three  and  four,  east  of  the  fourth  principal 
meridian,  and  township  thirty-nine  in  ranges  one  and 
two  east  of  that  meridian.  After  considering  them  the 


160  NAME 

committee  asked  to  be  and  was  discharged  from  duty, 
and  Noble  obtained  leave  to  withdraw  the  petition.  Had 
these  petitioners  succeeded  in  this  effort,  Lee  would  have 
lost  the  present  towns  of  Brooklyn,  Wyoming,  Viola, 
Willow  Creek,  Reynolds  and  Alto,  and  Paw  Paw,  in  all 
probability,  would  have  become  the  county  seat. 

William  B.  Plato  of  Kane  introduced  in  the  Senate  of 
the  Eighteenth  General  Assembly,  1853,  a  bill  for  "An 
Act  to  establish  the  County  of  Eagle,  and  for  other  pur- 
poses therein  named,"  which  was  read  twice  and  then 
put  to  death  by  a  reference  to  the  committee  on  elec- 
tions that  never  reported  upon  it. 

In  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1869-70,  W.  W. 
Sedgwick  of  De  Kalb  introduced  a  petition  signed  by 
residents  of  De  Kalb,  La  Salle  and  Lee  counties  pray- 
ing that  the  new  constitution  be  so  framed  that  a  new 
county  could  be  formed  out  of  those  counties  whenever 
two-thirds  of  the  voters  in  the  territory  petitioned  the 
General  Assembly  for  such  new  county.  The  petition  was 
sent  to  the  committee  on  counties  and  no  report  was 
made  upon  it. 

Dutcher  claimed  the  credit  of  selecting  the  name  of  the 
county,  and  stated  that  when  he  chose  it  he  had  in  mind 
General  Henry  Lee  (Light  Horse  Harry)  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary Army,  and  intended,  so  far  as  it  was  in  his 
power,  the  honor  should  go  to  him  and  no  other.  The 
statement  in  Hill's  History  of  Lee  County  (1881)  that 
the  name  was  chosen  in  honor  of  General  Robert  E.  Lee 
of  the  Confederate  Army  is  too  ridiculous  for  any 
comment. 


•137 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


EARLY  LEE  COUNTY,  BEING  SOME  CHAPTERS  IN 


